Virgil van Dijk goes head-to-head with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in a three-man shortlist for the 2019 Ballon d’Or next week.
The Dutch defender played a pivotal role in Liverpool’s Champions League triumph and impressive Premier League campaign last season.
If recent reports are to believed though, he looks set to miss out on the award with Messi closing in on his sixth crowning.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the 32-year-old has already been told by a team from France Football magazine that he’s won the Ballon d’Or.
Messi guided Barcelona to the 10th La Liga title of his glittering career last term, scoring 36 goals in as many league games whilst providing 13 assists.
Van Dijk was named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year in August after his role in knocking Messi’s side out of the Champions League on the Reds’ way to glory.
Ronaldo helped Juventus to yet another Serie A title and guided Portugal to lifting the Nations League in the summer, but he’s also expected to come short.
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Jurgen Klopp said it himself. If you’re choosing the world’s best player in general, Messi wins it all day, but Van Dijk was the best in 2018-19.
He helped transform Liverpool into European champions again as well being a major reason as to why Klopp’s side nearly notched 100 Premier League points.
Van Dijk has been a behemoth since joining from Southampton and if he does miss out to Messi, it’d be very harsh.
