Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard were both given the PFA Merit award as they prepare to bring their respective Premier League careers to an end.
Gerrard will leave Anfield to join the Los Angeles Galaxy at the end of the season, while Lampard, who became Chelsea's highest ever goalscorer last year, will move to New York City FC when his spell at the Etihad Stadium is finished.
"Of course, we played together for England for a long time and I'm a huge admirer of Frank and his game and the success he has had at Chelsea," Gerrard told the audience in London.
"He is an unbelievable player, a world-class player and I couldn't ask for anyone better to share it with. I'm really pleased. Every time you get an individual award and an award for the job you do, you're really happy. I'm a young boy from a council estate who has worked every so hard to get to where I am today.
"I have been lucky, I have had a fantastic career it has been full of highs and lows but some of the highs I have achieved have blown me away and I achieved a lot of my dreams playing for Liverpool and England."
Gerrard and Lampard both retired from England duty last summer after winning 220 caps between them.