How long can Liverpool rely on Virgil van Dijk’s iron-man durability and what does his latest world recognition mean for his future?
At 35 years of age, most elite central defenders are managing their minutes, easing into rotation setups, or contemplating their final moves. But on Merseyside, Virgil van Dijk continues to defy time, standing as the indispensable foundation upon which Andoni Iraola’s entire Liverpool side is constructed.
Yet, despite his unmatched dominance and relentless availability, his long-term contract situation and future at L4 remain shadowed in uncertainty making every landmark milestone feel both a celebration of his genius and a quiet reminder of an impending transition.
The workload he carried last term was nothing short of staggering. Van Dijk played every minute of the club’s 2025/26 Premier League campaign and was the only outfield player in the entire division to do so. He also made 55 appearances in all competitions, the most of his glittering Liverpool career.
That incredible durability has rolled seamlessly into the current campaign. The workload has continued this season, with Van Dijk playing every minute of Liverpool’s nine Premier League games. The captain has returned to top form alongside summer signing Jeremy Jacquet, anchoring a backline under immense scrutiny.
Beyond domestic duties, his national role has been equally relentless. He played all 90 minutes of the Netherlands’ four Nations League matches in September and October, scoring in the 2-2 draw at Greece on October 1.
The last of those games a 2-1 win over Serbia in Eindhoven on October 4 marked his landmark 100th cap, becoming just the 11th Dutch man in history to reach that prestigious century mark.
Now, his fellow professionals have put him forward for yet another major individual honour.
FIFPRO World 11 Recognition: Van Dijk Stands Alone for Liverpool
FIFPRO announced on Monday that Van Dijk is one of 26 finalists for the 2026 Men’s World 11.
More than 26,000 professional footballers from 75 countries voted for the men’s and women’s teams. The men’s finalists are the players who received the most votes for their performances from August 4, 2025 to July 19, 2026. Each candidate had to play at least 30 official matches in that eligibility period.
That qualification window included the World Cup, where Van Dijk captained the Netherlands through an unbeaten group stage before Morocco eliminated the Dutch on penalties in the round of 32.
The voting process ensures high standards across the board:
- Selection Breakdown: The goalkeeper, three defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards with the most votes automatically make the team. The remaining outfield player with the next highest number of votes takes the final place.
- Announcement Date: FIFPRO will announce the final World 11 on Monday, November 9, from 14:00 CET across its digital platforms.
Van Dijk already boasts a formidable record in this prestigious award. He was voted into the world team in 2019, 2020,2022, 2024, and 2025.
His fifth selection last year left only nine players with more overall appearances since the award’s inception in 2005,putting him alongside elite company: Iker Casillas, Kevin De Bruyne, and John Terry are the only other men with exactly five selections. He earned that place after starting 37 of 38 league games as Arne Slot’s side captured the Premier League title.
The other defenders on this year’s 26-man shortlist are Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Gabriel, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, William Saliba, and Dayot Upamecano.
Crucially, Van Dijk is the only Liverpool player among the 26 finalists.
This latest recognition is a double-edged sword. On one hand, seeing our skipper continuously listed alongside the absolute elite of world football brings immense pride. On the other, it highlights an uncomfortable truth for Iraola and the Anfield hierarchy: Liverpool still depend on Virgil van Dijk more than any other player on the pitch.
Even at 35, there is no replacement in modern football for the calm authority, aerial dominance, and diagonal distribution Van Dijk provides. The partnership developing alongside Jacquet offers a glimpse of the future, but Van Dijk remains the conductor of the entire defensive unit.
With his contract status and future at Anfield still an unresolved talking point as the months tick by, Liverpool face a delicate balancing act. Allowing a player who remains comfortably among the top three centre-backs on the planet to walk away or slip through the cracks would leave a cavernous void that no single summer transfer could easily fill.
As the FIFPRO votes are tallied ahead of next Monday’s reveal, one thing is beyond debate for Kopites: age is just a number for Liverpool’s captain, and securing his presence at the heart of the Reds defence remains as vital today as it was when he first walked through the doors in 2018.
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