The Belgium captain has six Premier League crowns and one Champions League title, as well as two FA Cups and five League Cups to his name since his 2015 switch from German side VfL Wolfsburg.
Kevin De Bruyne kept Manchester City's defence of the Champions League alive by firing home an equaliser 14 minutes from time to send their quarter-final tie against Real Madrid to extra-time.
Stunned by conceding an early goal scored by Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, De Bruyne equalised with a superb shot and after second-half goals by Rico Lewis and Erling Haaland the Belgian midfielder added his second.
De Bruyne has been left out of Belgium's squad for their forthcoming friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and England because of a groin strain.
The Spaniard, however, was not just waxing lyrical about the returning Belgian after a thrilling victory, he had warm words for Norwegian youngster Oscar Bobb whose goal from De Bruyne's assist secured the points in stoppage time.
The Belgian came off the bench to score and set up Oscar Bobb's stoppage-time winner to announce his comeback from a five-month injury layoff in style.
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne used his time away from soccer during to a post-operation recovery period to reconnect with his family, the midfielder said after his first game back on Sunday.
The Belgium international came on as a 57th-minute substitute and set up a goal as the holders cruised to a 5-0 win over second-tier strugglers Huddersfield in a thoroughly lopsided clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne may be one of the best assist providers in the Premier League but the Belgian was forced to concede he played no part in assisting off the pitch by co-writing Canadian rapper Drake's new song "Wick Man".
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola demands more protection for players after seeing Kevin De Bruyne narrowly avoid serious injury as his side's 18-game winning streak came to an end.
Pep Guardiola says Kevin De Bruyne incarnated Manchester City's future after the Belgian's sublime display inspired his side to an emphatic 4-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Kevin De Bruyne's superb strike and a late Raheem Sterling goal maintain Manchester City's impressive form in a 2-0 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk.
Manchester City's Premier League title bid could hinge on performances against their main rivals this season, says attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne.
After beating the 'best team in the world', playing lowly Middlesbrough on a November afternoon in the north of England should bring Premier League leaders Manchester City nicely back to earth.
Pep Guardiola drew first blood in his renewed managerial duel with Jose Mourinho as Manchester City deservedly won an absorbing Premier League derby 2-1 against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Wales are happy to cast themselves as underdogs in their Euro 2016 quarter-final against Belgium on Friday but such modesty belies their proven ability to bite hard.
Manchester City have already landed Raheem Sterling (£49m) and Kevin De Bruyne (£54m) but it seems they are not yet done and are are hoping to tempt Pep Guardiola and Ballon d'Or nominee Neymar.
The Netherlands' miserable European Championship qualifying campaign came to an end with a 3-2 defeat to the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
Iceland beat 10-man Netherlands 1-0 on Thursday while Gareth Bale’s header against Cyprus almost guarantees Wales a spot in the next year’s Euro.