Updated September 22nd, 2019 at 21:13 IST
Van Dijk threatens to eclipse Ronaldo and Messi in world's best title
Virgil Dijk threatens to eclipse stars, Ronaldo and Messi, to lift FIFA's The Best Player award, to set himself up as a favourite for this year's Ballon d'Or.
Advertisement
Virgil Van Dijk threatens to eclipse fellow European stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to lift FIFA's The Best Player award on Monday, to set himself up as a favourite for this year's Ballon d'Or.
3 Men's finalists for The Best Player Award
Van Dijk, Ronaldo, and Messi are the three men's finalists for The Best Player award, with the winner to be announced on Monday in a star-studded ceremony in Milan's famous opera house La Scala. The towering Dutch defender helped Liverpool to the Champions League trophy last season and is well-positioned having already won the UEFA player of the year award.
Since The Best award was created in 2016, the winner has gone on to also lift the coveted Ballon d'Or, which will be unveiled on December 2. Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric won both awards last year to end Ronaldo and Messi's ten-year domination.
READ | Raheem Sterling can match up to Messi and Ronaldo, says Guardiola
In the past three years, the podiums for both awards have been almost identical apart from Egyptian Mohamed Salah's third place in The Best in 2018, a spot occupied by France's Antoine Griezmann in the Ballon d'Or. Based on Liverpool's success last season it could be Van Dijk's turn to become the first defender since Italy's former World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
The 28-year-old proved himself among the best defenders in the world for Liverpool and the Dutch national side who reached the Nations League final. Liverpool also missed out on the Premier League title by just one point behind Manchester City.
READ | Neymar Jr. and Cristiano Ronaldo step into the boxing ring
Messi-Ronaldo 5 time award winner by FIFA
Ronaldo also won the Nations League with Portugal and his first Serie A title with Juventus. Messi was the top scorer in the Champions League last season with 12 goals before Barcelona were eliminated by Liverpool in the semi-finals. The Argentine was also the top European scorer with 36 goals and won La Liga title with Barcelona.
READ | Bury F.C. expelled from English Football League, takeover fails
US women's coach Jill Ellis is in the running for the women's coaching award along with England's Phil Neville and Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman.
READ | Ruud Gullit says too many good players have left Chelsea Football Club
READ | Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neur to retire from international football?
Advertisement
Published September 22nd, 2019 at 18:55 IST