Virgil van Dijk deserves to beat Lionel Messi to Ballon d'Or glory, according to Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman.
"He deserves to win the Ballon d'Or," Koeman said on Monday.
"It's usually handed to players who make or create decisive goals, but if there ever is a time to give it to a defender, it is now."
Koeman was speaking in a YouTube question and answer session organised by the Dutch football federation.
"In my opinion, Messi is the best player," Koeman said, "but I also think you should win big trophies with your team to be a contestant."
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chirodip_roy
349
ballon D Or is an individual award not a collective one. Can any one says that liverpool is a one man team? But barca is and still messi manages to be the top scorer and top assist provider in la Liga and the top scorer in Europe and in the Champions league and he was the semi finalists of the champions League and finalist of the copa del Rey and he did all that on his own. van dijk without salah mane allison will be nothing but messi will still stand alone. If messi doesn't get the ballon d or this time then the award is a total disgrace.
niuabeinr
155
VVD is wall that have corrected the error in Liverpool, Liverpool a team who draw with bornemoth after 3 goal up after 79 minutes now have a defender that have stop that nonsense making the same Liverpool loosing just one match in the premier league gaining 97 points and eliminating the likes Bayern Munich, Porto and the likes of the so called Goat 🐐 and winning the champions league for Liverpool... this guy deserve something more than ballor d or... she should be giving a new award... Messi should try next year
MobePoku
135
Ballon d'or politics this season😂😂😂 All are against Messi when actually he deserves it hands down. Even if after everything, Messi emerges the winner, he won't be given it. Everything shows Van Dijk is taking it. Van Dijk has been good this season but cannot be compared to Leo performance-wise. You people should know that Messi carried that Barça team on his shoulders this ended season. They know the truth but now you should win UCL before being awarded it. There's no sense in it. Then why did they give it to Messi in 2012 when he didn't win UCL? No logic.
VidalArturo
127
Koeman made Van Dijk the captain of Holland Football Team ahead of the likes of Jasper Cillissen and Stefan de Vrij How can anyone expect Koeman to choose Messi ahead of Van Dijk in Ballon dor race.
MridulPandey
111
No opponent has completed a dribble past Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk in any of his last SIXTY-FOUR appearances in all competitions He has performed consistently at highest level and is now even being widely tipped to win the Ballon d'Or after establishing himself as one of the world's best defenders. I am a man utd fan, so i don't want any Liverpool player to win the ballon d'or but the truth is that he deserves it.
Mosanya
106
Why will you forget Messi after the hardwork and the incredible performance Messi have displayed this season even though he was not in the Champions league, he still deserves it let's take an example of the 2013 Balon dor, Ronaldo won it even despite ribery won the Champions league, though van dijk has been incredible and has won awards and is world class defender but Messi is way better this season alone he is the Highest goal scored of the UCL, highest goal scorer of la liga, winner of golden shoe and Pichichi, what is left to prove.
kkstyles04
96
It would be a 50-50 between VVD and Messi. Depends on the voters if they want it for an attacker or a defender.They both have been outstanding and if UCL comes into play as it mostly does VVD might be the one.
butcikloru
93
I have never seen vivid explanation personified so beautifully. If the Ballon Dor is a team award,then,there would be no contest between Liverpool and Barcelona It is however an individual award and it should be given to the most outstanding person in the whole of Europe. Let us ask ourselves,is VVD the best player in Liverpool? Before you write,remember Mane and Salah were joint premier league golden boot winners with almost 50 goals between them. Remember Salah also scored in the final. In fact,Origi was better than VVD in both the semi final and final.He scored 3 goals in two crucial matches.Even as a substitute in the final.He never won man of the match in the final. VVD made one interception and won MOTM award. Sincerely,the whole VVD saga is to keep the Ronaldo/Messi debate alive by pegging Messi at 5 Ballon Dor. They are doing this for internet traffic and the money its generating.History will judge them.They keep distorting history to satisfy their appetite for fame and fortune. When we say the truth,they say we are worshipping Messi.
yatbcekntu
80
This is why Ballon dor has lost its relevance, people just say things to favor players related to them in any way, how can Van Djirk be said to deserve Ballon Dor over Mane, Salad, Firminho? What exactly was his contribution to thier winnings? Is Ballon dor just for CL league alone or individual performance for an entire season? No player this season has done half of what Messi has done, MOTM in almost all the games he played this season. If Koeman is saying for a player to win d Ballon dor, he should win a major trophy, then Only Mane has been consistent enough to even challenge Messi.
Divyansh26
73
He's just trynna saying that both Messi and VVD have great stats but we must try to appreciate Defender's contribution to this beautiful Game simple .......Modric won it last year due to his great impact for Croatian National team and on winning UCL so why Can't VVD .....Its time for some change let's stop giving Balloon d'or to Messi and Ronaldo and end both of them with 5 Balloon d'or so that there might be no more fight ....and It must be given more to Keeper in Stegen,Oblak,Allison,etc who perform tremendously and To defenders...... I hope VVD pulls it through 👍👍..... [Liverpool][Liverpool][Liverpool][Liverpool][Liverpool][Liverpool]
StackAlmighty
72
Van dijk had a good season but Without Messi goals and assists for Barcelona we’ll never had gone to semi without Van dijk Liverpool will do alright so please we all know Messi’s impact in the game he does deserve everything this season just Champions league and copa del rey didn’t turn to him he scored two perfect goals first leg against Liverpool and in a game even the best man can loose,he won every single individual award this season why not ballon d’or
Tahbkouz
68
VVD deserves it more than Messi. He didn’t win the Premiership but his contribution led to the team only losing just one match against the eventual winners Man City. That led to one of most keenly contested premiership. Also, note that it’s Liverpool that eliminated Barcelona from the Champions League and his contribution was great
yatbcekntu
61
I think every voter should be forced to watch the games of each players throughout the season, this nonsense patrotism will kill this beautiful game, Mane deserves it far more than VVV, Aisson deserves more than him. Ramon won LA decima and no one mentioned him, went ahead to win 3 CL and no one said a thing, just one CL after several years and behold EPL fans with the usual hyping starts their usual over hyping. Even Kompany that handed the league to City is not mentioned. I ask just one question, what spectacular thing did VVV do?
yatbcekntu
60
This is why Ballon dor has lost its relevance, people just say things to favor players related to them in any way, how can Van Djirk be said to deserve Ballon Dor over Mane, Salad, Firminho? What exactly was his contribution to thier winnings? Is Ballon dor just for CL league alone or individual performance for an entire season? No player this season has done half of what Messi has done, MOTM in almost all the games he played this season. If Koeman is saying for a player to win d Ballon dor, he should win a major trophy, then Only Mane has been consistent enough to even challenge Messi. What is wrong with this people? Even Ramos that won it 3x consecutively, even scoring major goals was not even mentioned, talkless of Van Djirk, this nonsense EPL hyping should pls stop in England
jaydlnpz
57
a defender is important to a teams performance, maybe even more than attackers. Look at a team like atletico Madrid, they're second in la liga not because of the number of goals scored but because of their solid defense, you can check their stats if you want, and they only got knocked out cause their defense went off a bit. Now look at teams like PSG, they have probably the best attack in neymar, cavani and mbappe, but because they have a very poor defense they bottle the champions league every season, they can only win by outscoring their opponents and hope their opponents don't have a good reply. My point is people underestimate a defenders contribution and we'll always look to the forwards to collect the awards for best player. But anyway all the best van dijk and messi.
leo__daai
34
dude Messi scored twice against Liverpool, and we all know that in second leg Messi had participation in all shots on goal either directly or assists..he was one and watch a video when van dijk was asking for help when he was against Messi one on one. though van dijk has a great season but Messi was on different level. let's compare. even after good season how many motm he got in epl ?? no where to Messi and did he win pl no ! Messi won. did he take his team fa cup finals no Messi was there and scored and how many times van dijk ucl player of the week ? only once in finals. Messi was 5 times ucl player of the weak despite not playing 2 matches dure to injury. for me Messi is 1st and then van dijk is 2. just stats says this
Divyansh26
16
ballon D Or is an individual award not a collective one. Can any one says that liverpool is a one man team? But barca is and still messi manages to be the top scorer and top assist provider in la Liga and the top scorer in Europe and in the Champions league and he was the semi finalists of the champions League and finalist of the copa del Rey and he did all that on his own. van dijk without salah mane allison will be nothing but messi will still stand alone. If messi doesn't get the ballon d or this time then the award is a total disgrace.
not a good comment tbh you saying after a bad season Messi still was top scorer so ?? even after a tremendous season Salah was still the top scorer so we must give Balloon D'Or to him instead if VVD no not at all VVD has done whatever a defender must do......And if you think Messi can do wonders alone you're wrong totally not even VVD can do wonders alone I agree he needs support but so do Messi he also needs support of his player look when they came to Anfield only Messi was good and Vidal then all the 9 players were mostly bad so it got him trophy no!!!!........If his individual contributions would have helped Barca win CL then things would be in favour I guess even if this year there won't be any of CR7 or Messi winning Ballon D'Or i won't be surprised
SportingLisbon44
15
ballon D Or is an individual award not a collective one. Can any one says that liverpool is a one man team? But barca is and still messi manages to be the top scorer and top assist provider in la Liga and the top scorer in Europe and in the Champions league and he was the semi finalists of the champions League and finalist of the copa del Rey and he did all that on his own. van dijk without salah mane allison will be nothing but messi will still stand alone. If messi doesn't get the ballon d or this time then the award is a total disgrace.
Total disgrace??? Hahahahahah. Van Dijk was much more key to Liverpool than Messi to Barcelona.
Siycdmrsuy
15
ballon D Or is an individual award not a collective one. Can any one says that liverpool is a one man team? But barca is and still messi manages to be the top scorer and top assist provider in la Liga and the top scorer in Europe and in the Champions league and he was the semi finalists of the champions League and finalist of the copa del Rey and he did all that on his own. van dijk without salah mane allison will be nothing but messi will still stand alone. If messi doesn't get the ballon d or this time then the award is a total disgrace.
If VVD doesn't get this time it is ultimate disgrace to football. Ballon d'or voters has to be Messi fans first then only Messi will win but if they are football fan, VVD is the right one. He won UCL with very good stats and he is premier Leaque best player of the year. So many years forwards are dominating and now it's right time for a defender to win too.
fastprince
13
ballon D Or is an individual award not a collective one. Can any one says that liverpool is a one man team? But barca is and still messi manages to be the top scorer and top assist provider in la Liga and the top scorer in Europe and in the Champions league and he was the semi finalists of the champions League and finalist of the copa del Rey and he did all that on his own. van dijk without salah mane allison will be nothing but messi will still stand alone. If messi doesn't get the ballon d or this time then the award is a total disgrace.
Let messi forget dude, it might be individual but being knocked out of UCL and copa del Rey in that manner is a shame. no Ballon D'or winner should lose in that manner. VVD loading
ficcdkorsu
11
ballon D Or is an individual award not a collective one. Can any one says that liverpool is a one man team? But barca is and still messi manages to be the top scorer and top assist provider in la Liga and the top scorer in Europe and in the Champions league and he was the semi finalists of the champions League and finalist of the copa del Rey and he did all that on his own. van dijk without salah mane allison will be nothing but messi will still stand alone. If messi doesn't get the ballon d or this time then the award is a total disgrace.
Van Dijk will never be the top scorer in anything because he is a freakin DEFENDER, do you know what a defender's job is? How on earth do you involve Messi top goalscorer, what is this thing, so if you don't score you aren't good and you don't deserve to win anything?