Categories: EPLNews

Van Dijk: It’ll Be Nice For A Defender To Win The Ballon d’Or This Year

Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk has revealed he is flattered by the Ballon d’Or talks and it would be nice to see a defender win it for the first time since 2006.

It has been over a decade since a defender won the most prestigious individual award in world football. Former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro was the last defender to win the award in 2006 after he led Italy to their fourth world cup.

Since then, the award has been won by midfielders and attackers. However, Van Dijk is on course to break that trend following a brilliant season with Liverpool and Netherlands.

The 27-year-old was influential in Liverpool’s champions league success while he was also named the PFA player of the year after helping Liverpool finished second in the premier league with 97 points-a point behind eventual champions Manchester City.

On the International scene, he led Netherlands to the final of the inaugural nations league where they lost narrowly to Portugal.

His performances over the course of last season have made him the bookies favourite for the big award, and it is something he hopes he can win.

Speaking to Skysports, Van Dijk revealed he has thought about it but admits it’s something he has no control over.

“If people are talking about it – you can’t say it doesn’t do you something,” Van Dijk, who was voted the PFA Players’ Player of the Year for the past season.

“But it’s a subject we don’t have any influence on. I can’t change anything right now other than get fit, stay fit and that’s the situation.

“Winning something like that is a dream come true for every footballer in the world. If you don’t then you just get on with it and try to perform better than last year. “It would be fantastic, and I would be very proud.

“But the main thing will be to focus on what we do all together and achieving the bigger goal – that’s getting silverware with the club.”

 

Joba Ogunwale

Oluwajoba Ogunwale has many years of experience as a sports content writer. The most recent of these was at Opera News, after which he took up the role of Editor-in-Chief at Soccernet.

Share
Published by
Joba Ogunwale

Recent Posts

Osimhen: Napoli star drops transfer hint as Man United and Chelsea prepare €75 million bid

Napoli-owned forward Victor Osimhen has sparked transfer speculation with a new comment about his future,… Read More

13 hours ago

Ghana 0-0 Nigeria: CHAN Eagles grab first-leg advantage in Accra against Black Galaxies

Nigeria forced Ghana to a goalless draw in the first leg of the qualifying playoff… Read More

13 hours ago

What Hakimi’s mother said after her son lost the CAF POTY Award to Lookman

Achraf Hakimi's mother, Saida Mouh, has revealed her son has moved on from the disappointment… Read More

13 hours ago

“I see similarities with Leicester” – Ex-Barcelona striker backs Ola Aina’s Nott’m Forest to win EPL title

Former Barcelona and England striker, Gary Lineker, has backed Taiwo Awoniyi and Ola Aina's Nottingham… Read More

14 hours ago

Two Premier League clubs ready to meet Napoli’s €75m asking price for Victor Osimhen

Two English Premier League sides, Manchester United and Chelsea, are prepared to meet Napoli's €75m… Read More

15 hours ago

Tolu Arokodare surpasses Stephen Keshi’s mark in Belgium as Genk humble Anderlecht

Tolu Arokodare delivered a man-of-the-match performance to inspire KRC Genk to a convincing 2-0 win… Read More

15 hours ago