Virgil van Dijk has pulled ahead to become the bookmakers' favourite to win this season's prestigious Ballon d'Or honour.
The Liverpool defender helped his side to become European champions for the sixth time in their history in Madrid, and now is sparring with Lionel Messi for the title of Europe's top player.
Van Dijk added to his cause this week when captaining Holland to a crunch victory over England and a place in the finals of the UEFA Nations League.
Now the Liverpool man appears set to scoop the biggest personal accolade of them all.
Following Holland's result, Van Dijk shifted up among the bookmakers to feature as the frontrunner for Ballon d'Or glory.
Lionel Messi currently occupies second place, while many place another Liverpool star in Sadio Mane at third.
Mohamed Salah remains fourth in line, at present, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Raheem Sterling following thereafter.
Van Dijk has already helped himself to PFA Player of the Year in the Premier League this season, after transforming Jurgen Klopp's back line into the country's most water-tight.
Should he scoop the Ballon d'Or and take over from last year's winner Luka Modric, Van Dijk would become the first defender to take the top prize since Italian icon Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
Van Dijk and Holland will go up against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the final of the UEFA Nations League in Porto's Estadio Do Dragao on Sunday, June 9.
VanishPrasad
1114
This is a fact ; - Ramos is described as the best defender because he scores goals. - Van Dijk is described as the best defender since he has supreme defensive traits.
Desmondeyum
402
me as a Messi fan deciding if I want Ronaldo to win another international competition.* *Or Van Dijk to become the favourite for the ballon D’or* 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Sethuramalingam
235
If Cristiano Ronaldo wins the nations league.. Headlines will be Cristiano Ronaldo the favourites for ballon D’or 2019😍😍😍
Lunklryz
229
Very nice fifa, ballon d'or is now about team achievements and not individual performance, they keep saying VVD helped klopp win the champions league but there wasn't a single game where he decided the game or blocked an enormous goal unlike De ligt who i think played better as he carried VVD yesterday vs England and they gave VVD the credits for being in the finals🤦🏻♂️. All this year there is no one who assisted, scored, dribbled, passed, and played like MESSI did and if he doesn't win it, it is complete robbery and disgrace to his talent and hardwork, just appreciate this man's work and talent carrying his team all the way through the finals and because of one bad game ppl judge him instead of his teammates. It is 2018, 2017,2016, all over again where ballon dor is given to who wins the CL. Shame on you people, even Virgil Van Dijk said that he doesn't deserve it.
EmbraceStarboy
112
Balon dor is waiting for Van Dijk. If Messi had won the UCL for us then he deserved the award. Let's be fair, they say Messi deserves the award because of his goals and assists but let's also look at the stats of Van Dijk. The interceptions, blocks, aeriels and duels won, clearances, attacks and a few goals which is just a plus for a defender. Both play in different positions and thus should be rated with those statistics. The fact that Van Dijk won the champions league after such a fantastic season means the only way Messi can win the balon dor is Copa America success. If he doesn't win the Copa America give the balon d'or to Van Dijk. After the transformation he has brought to Liverpool he deserves it more than anyone else.
whykallar
107
Van Dijk deserved the Balloon d'Or, until Messi which is the boss of Barcelona can sack Valverde, he won't put hands on this incoming Balloon d'Or.
Towdepy
83
don't give us another funny winner like modric who'll be forgotten straight after receiving the award, ballon d'or is an individual award and all individual stats point to messi. if the award was a team achievement then Liverpool should win it. don't be fooled by champions league final appearance or heroics otherwise bale also would have won it
Odinakaanoliefo
53
wowwwww, bro I'm a Madrid and Liverpool fan, and I. know Messi deserves it, in my heart cause I want to see the debate going, we don't want just champions league winner to take the trophy, it's an individual award not a team one
Lonepredator
12
I didn't say anything like that. I just gave the facts. I didn't say who is better than the other.
and van dijk is great but he gets all the credit..... Robertson, taa and matip all playd huge part in Liverpool success....but who talks about them.... i can expect such opinion from afterall ur football judgement is solely based on this app articles ...
Heslstz
9
This is a fact ; - Ramos is described as the best defender because he scores goals. - Van Dijk is described as the best defender since he has supreme defensive traits.
Supreme defensive traits? That’s why mustafi made more tackles than him in the PL this season lol
Trevorn
8
This is a fact ; - Ramos is described as the best defender because he scores goals. - Van Dijk is described as the best defender since he has supreme defensive traits.
wtf are you saying??? anything for likes huh?