Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has been named the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year for his exceptional performances last season as he helped the Reds to a sixth European Cup triumph in Madrid.
Van Dijk is the UEFA Men's POTY 🏆
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) August 29, 2019
He bossed the likes of Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski over the course of the campaign and is rightly among the favourites for the Ballon d’Or, which will be announced in December.
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It’s not often that a defender wins the award, especially not when they are up against Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the award.
After Van Dijk collected the away shortly after the draw for the 2019/20 group stages took place, Reds fans were quick to react on Twitter.
They actually gave him it!
100% deserved, hell of a year— Kp15 (@Kapeyyy) August 29, 2019
https://twitter.com/MbeviMutungi/status/1167124767993991175
https://twitter.com/harounraz/status/1167124908536737795
https://twitter.com/danfieldsend/status/1167125401149292549
Van Dijk you fuckin beauty😍
Virgil Van Dijk named the best player in Europe😎
Simply the best in the world ❤
Another trophy🏆#LFC #LFCFamily #YNWA pic.twitter.com/CuOn7as9kB
— FantasticFirmino9 (@MPBFirmino9) August 29, 2019
https://twitter.com/tkmash/status/1167125047896629251
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Virgil Van Dijk is your UEFA Men's Player of the Season! Congratulations, Big VVD! #LFC #UEFAawards #VanDijk #YNWA https://t.co/dlwomioo9j
— Patrick (@B2Life33) August 29, 2019
There is no doubt that Van Dijk was a more than worthy winner. Clearly, Messi and Ronaldo – the former in particular – are excellent players, but last season, the Dutchman was better than both of them.
Alisson Becker was also given the award for the best goalkeeper in the tournament in what was a great hour or so for the Reds.