The Liverpool stopper puts team glory above personal gongs but is honoured to be considered in the hunt for the award given to the world's best player
The Netherlands international said he preferred his team's win in the Champions League to personal honours, but admitted he was pleased to be considered for individual gongs as well.
“To get the PFA Player of the Year is a fantastic honour,” Van Dijk told Liverpool’s official website, “it’s the highest honour you can get because it’s voted by your fellow peers.
“I said it back then as well, I would trade it for the Champions League. Luckily, I didn’t have to.
“It’s an honour if people are talking about [the Ballon d’Or], but what can I do? I have no influence on anything.
“I can’t deny I had a pretty good season last year, so the only thing I can do now is just focus on the new season, getting fit, stay fit and hopefully get an even better season than I had last year.
“I can understand the fact that normally strikers or No. 10’s win these awards because it’s more attractive to see. But maybe the time has come to change it.”
The last defender to win the Ballon d’Or was Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
Looking forward to next season, Liverpool’s skipper said his team was focused on challenging on all fronts.
The Anfield club were pipped to the title by one point by Manchester City last time out, but Van Dijk believes his team have the drive and the ability to be in the hunt in 2019-20 as well.
“As a team, we’re going to try to compete in every competition and obviously it’s going to be hard because there are so many and the league is so tough as well,” the 28-year-old continued, “but the only thing we can do is try.
“We will give everything we’ve got and we have the quality as well. We’ll see where that leads us.”
Luzbmnrsy
257
i will always say this.. i don't care who takes ballon d'or... Messi individualy deserves it... Van Dijk was a lucky player who played for a good spirited team like Liverpool.. Every individual in that team gave in equal efforts... why not see Senegal Mane or Cameroon Matib... they did alot equally.. perhaps they are blacks.... For me he Van dlDijk did not even deserve best EPL player award... i stil Hail Rayim Sterling for his phenomenal performance past season and i know we all know he is the one who deserved EPL player of the year.. perhaps he is black... Ban Dijk is a good defender but does not deserve it yet.
CollinsRPG
179
I wont be surprised if Messi doesn't win it. Football is not a one man job but to be honest Messi failed to show up in defining moments last season. One: Everyone performed almost dismally in Anfield. I think the best football should rise in such occasions. He need to just one moment, one goal. Two. Against Valencia - Copa Del Ray final. He didn't showup. Three. Copa America ended in disaster. 2017/2018 season was even better for Messi he scored almost the same amount of goals and walked way with a domestic double. This time he has Laliga to show. Please don't take any offense just trying to clarify things that may steal away the Ballon Dor from Messi.
Cawaciklny
151
For a defender, yes. Defenders these days are expected to do a lot more than old times. Previously defenders could just kick and trip people and nobody batted an eye but now with stringent and safe rules it is much easier than before for strikers as there is less resistance. The award to Modric was correct in terms of midfielders being rewarded because statistically in terms of goals and assists it may be less. But from the passes and accuracy and chances midfielders create and sometimes score they do it all. So, that rewarded midfielders and it is time defenders are noted as well. It is much difficult to keep clean sheets due to the modern rules and also due to the advanced position of the wingbacks these days. I agree with Van Dijk. It is time and defending shouldn't be a thankless job.
mwamps/jr
127
No one dribbled past VVD coz he never went close to the attackers and now he wants a balon do'r. [Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]. Liverpool won the ucl coz of Origi charm. It was a team effort, all players contributed equally.
captmmarwel
118
if you think messi deserves bcs he was individually the best player then what about ronaldo not winning Uefa POTY after scoring most goals in champions league. Messi is definitely top 2 or top 3 but cant see why messi should be awarded best player in the world, not after that anfield, copa America and copa del rey humiliation. Bernardo silva, van dijk should win it. maybe S. Mane. im a huge Ronaldo fan but im being honest about his chances being slim as well. no hate for messi, i love that player but you cannot award him best player in the world after losing 3-0 lead, copa America, and copa del rey final. best player in la liga definitely but not in the world.
MridulPandey
90
Messi was phenomenal this season better than any one else. But his performance in last couple of months have dropped. Barcelona lost crucial matches vs Liverpool 4-0 and Copa Del Rey Final. Then in Copa America he was very poor with just one goal from penalty. So I will give the edge to Virgil Van Dijk
bizou650
73
It seems most us don't understand the criteria of Ballon d'or... -Individual award yes but winning a major trophy be it UCL or international..good -thousand of accolades don't give a player ballon d'or but only 1 accolade with a major trophy be it UCL or w.cup or runner up in a major fifa tournament is ok like the case of Modric in 2018. - toping the goal scoring chart in the universe don't give Ballon d'or but accolade...but scoring just 4 goals in a season and winning Ucl.. or good runner up in a major continental tournament plus 1 accolade can give u ballon d'or so let us see the criteria rather saying unthoughtful things🙏🙏🙏 -
Vuzdilprsy
40
Allison Becker of Liverpool Deserves that Ballon d'Or more than both Messi or Van Dijk.. the man's arrival at Liverpool shows huge difference from when Karius was between the sticks..if Van Dijk was so good then Allison wouldn't really have so many Important saves and blocks in a season.If it's also about trophies won, the man was good for Liverpool and for Brazil.. the number of Golden gloves he has in 1 season proves that.Messi was good in saving Barcelona a number of times..But Alisson was even better cause also saved Brazil.and Roma the season before that hence Barcelona was knocked out.. The team confidently attacked forward knowing Allison is a man to stop any shot in an event of counter attack
tubeklnsty
35
how come van dijk won the PFA player of the year award and didnt win the league but everyone saying messi shouldn't win the balon dor because he didnt win the champs league? this is individual performance award and messi performance were out of this world if you watch his games they breathtaking. van dijk is the best defender in the world but to be classed as a best player in the world you have to be the best at everything and everyone which is messi,best passer best dribbler best shooter and goal scorer. all van dijk has to do is defend. attackers have to score assist defend press too which messi did and scored highest in la liga and champs league. it's no question messi deserves the balon dor.
SaviourCR7
9
i will always say this.. i don't care who takes ballon d'or... Messi individualy deserves it... Van Dijk was a lucky player who played for a good spirited team like Liverpool.. Every individual in that team gave in equal efforts... why not see Senegal Mane or Cameroon Matib... they did alot equally.. perhaps they are blacks.... For me he Van dlDijk did not even deserve best EPL player award... i stil Hail Rayim Sterling for his phenomenal performance past season and i know we all know he is the one who deserved EPL player of the year.. perhaps he is black... Ban Dijk is a good defender but does not deserve it yet.
foolish and ignorance talks and liked by fucking Barcelona fans
jayadelmu
9
i will always say this.. i don't care who takes ballon d'or... Messi individualy deserves it... Van Dijk was a lucky player who played for a good spirited team like Liverpool.. Every individual in that team gave in equal efforts... why not see Senegal Mane or Cameroon Matib... they did alot equally.. perhaps they are blacks.... For me he Van dlDijk did not even deserve best EPL player award... i stil Hail Rayim Sterling for his phenomenal performance past season and i know we all know he is the one who deserved EPL player of the year.. perhaps he is black... Ban Dijk is a good defender but does not deserve it yet.
nonsense are Liverpool fans.....sterling deserves the EPL player of the year and ballon D'or this year are for messi now stop argued and believed the fact
raynardblake
8
i will always say this.. i don't care who takes ballon d'or... Messi individualy deserves it... Van Dijk was a lucky player who played for a good spirited team like Liverpool.. Every individual in that team gave in equal efforts... why not see Senegal Mane or Cameroon Matib... they did alot equally.. perhaps they are blacks.... For me he Van dlDijk did not even deserve best EPL player award... i stil Hail Rayim Sterling for his phenomenal performance past season and i know we all know he is the one who deserved EPL player of the year.. perhaps he is black... Ban Dijk is a good defender but does not deserve it yet.
"individually Messi deserve d bollon dor "...lol 😂 a joke ting did u watch him in Copa America lol 😂 Messi is d best Barcelona player in Spanish league let's give him a trophy for that 😂
dneu842
8
i will always say this.. i don't care who takes ballon d'or... Messi individualy deserves it... Van Dijk was a lucky player who played for a good spirited team like Liverpool.. Every individual in that team gave in equal efforts... why not see Senegal Mane or Cameroon Matib... they did alot equally.. perhaps they are blacks.... For me he Van dlDijk did not even deserve best EPL player award... i stil Hail Rayim Sterling for his phenomenal performance past season and i know we all know he is the one who deserved EPL player of the year.. perhaps he is black... Ban Dijk is a good defender but does not deserve it yet.
Actually you are jealous of vvd