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."