OpinionVan Dijk will be honoured to be mentioned in the same breath as greats like Messi and Maldini, but a similar icon is closer to home

The Netherlands defender came second to Lionel Messi in Fifa’s The Best men’s player of the year award this week

He was named England’s Professional Footballers’ Association and Uefa player of the year last season

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Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk is quickly becoming one of the great defenders of his generation. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:09pm, 26 Sep 2019Updated: 5:39pm, 26 Sep 2019

Virgil van Dijk is a winner. The Liverpool centre back wants to collect medals and accolades. His thirst for success is insatiable.

The Dutchman went to the Champions League final in Cardiff in 2017 to watch Real Madrid dismantle Juventus 4-1. Van Dijk will always stand out in the crowd and fans swarmed around him. He was in the news. The then Southampton defender was in demand. Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea were all linked with Van Dijk. Scores of supporters made their opinion clear about which club they thought he should join.

Dozens told him to go to Anfield. A handful exhorted him to head to the Etihad. A couple suggested that Stamford Bridge should be his next destination.

Van Dijk took on board the supporters’ advice. He was always inclined to join Liverpool. The club’s history and the fervour of the Kop appealed to him. His experience at Celtic illustrated the importance of those factors to a player’s career. He was predisposed to play regularly at a ground where “You’ll Never Walk” alone was the anthem.

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi was named Fifa’s The Best men’s player of the year. Photo: AFP

The 28-year-old could not have imagined on that night in Cardiff that he would play in the next two Champions League finals, let alone win the second of those showpiece games. He probably never visualised that he would come second to Lionel Messi in Fifa’s The Best men’s player of the year award this week. For a defender to come runner up to Barcelona’s genius is a magnificent achievement in itself. There can be no disappointment being ranked in the same echelon as the Argentinian.