Jose Mourinho has given his opinions on Virgil van Dijk's hopes of winning the Ballon d'Or this year.
Mourinho said that Reds trio Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane are key names – but that Champions League glory alone was not necessarily enough to claim football's most coveted individual prize.
“The World Cups and the Champions Leagues and the Euros, they are the ones that have something to say about it,” Mourinho said.
“But Cristiano was only Italian champion, Messi was only Spanish champion.
“Liverpool, European champions, but not champions domestically.
He singled out Liverpool defensive colossus Van Dijk as a key contender, especially if the Dutchman can help drive his team to UEFA Nations League glory, first when they play England in the semifinal this Thursday in Portugal.
“I think Van Dijk, why not a defender? But didn't win the Premier League, in spite of [the fact that] he was considered the best player.
"But if Holland manages to go Portugal [in the Nations League] and win a trophy, a small trophy but a trophy, that can play [a role in deciding the Ballon d'Or]."
Liverpool teammates Salah and Mane are in a similar situation as they prepare for the Africa Cup of Nations this month, while Messi will play at the Copa America.
Salah netted 22 times in the Premier League and five times in the Champions League last season, while Mane also bagged 22 goals in the league and four in Europe.
Those stats were behind Argentina ace Messi, however, who scored 53 goals across all competitions, including 12 in the Champions League.
“Messi and Argentina with the [Copa] America cup, Salah and Mane in the African cup [of Nations].
“I think Salah was better last season than this season, but a European champion. Mane, fantastic all season and a European champion, and I think Senegal is qualified for the final phrase.
“I would go a little bit around this,” Mourinho added.
Mourinho ruled out other stars such as PSG duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
“Neymar this season was not good enough with his injury, Mbappe, fantastic season but bad Champions League and France didn't reach [the Nations League finals].
“So I would be around Van Dijk, Salah, Mane, Messi. I would go around these,” he concluded.
Banbdelry
133
according to morinho messi shouldn't win the balondoor because he did not win the champions league yet..vandyk was giving pfa best player without wining the league ....sometimes I wonder if this man is really a coach ... I guess he doesn't no that balondoor is an individual award like pfa best player laliga best player ucl best player ..this are award you can win without even if you dont win trophy not some team trophy award
lented
108
Anything different from Mourinho's view is corruption🙌🏾....Van Djirk...the winner already
Mosanya
104
Without any doubt Messi is the top player..Even with the performance it doesn't make him one short of who he is ..In Europe and in the world he still remains one of the best players, a true legend and a genius of the Game football a squad would be incomplete without him ..he's the player who scores goals that leaves you astonished. He is expectional and colossal.
football19
83
He is Being Biased Now. He said Ronaldo Won Serie-A and Messi Won La-liga. S basically he is Trying To say That If Ronaldo Dont Deserve to be on top 10 list,Messi Shouldn’t be Either. But What About their Performance. Everyone Knows How Great Messi was This Season. He Won 5 MOTM in UCL+He scored the most Goals (Despite the Fact He didn’t Play Two games in the group stages). He is Most Goalscorer,Most Assists,Most Key Passes in Europe. How On Earth Can You say Messi doesn’t deserve it. Van Dijk Was Really Good This Season. And He deserves to be On the top 3 But The only player That Deserve Balon D'OR this year Is Lionel Messi
Kirianaka
78
What's wrong with this big mouth old tactician who doesn't even have a club and always gets sack on his 3rd year..ever since his been commenting against Messi on this Ballon d'or 2019....whether VVD wins it this year or not it won't change the fact that Messi individual stats this year is better than any other player and the Ballon d'or is an individual award
Africa8363666
73
if defending is like scoring it means that VVD has 99goals in all competition because no one succeeded a single dribble pass him, i think he deserves the ballon dor
KingJerryTheGreat
69
Well Mourinho should have selected last year's ball on dor winner because he's really good in this, I hope they take his opinion because that's true talk...If Messi wins then it's a surprise because last year Ronaldo did better than Messi this year especially in World Cup and UCL (The most important trophies)...😐😶