Liverpool center back Virgil van Dijk insisted he cannot be compared to Lionel Messi, dismissing any suggestions he was disappointed by not winning the Best FIFA Men’s Player award.
Van Dijk finished just behind Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi for the award on Monday in Milan and Juventus and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo got third place.
The Dutchman arrived at Anfield back in the January 2018 transfer window and transformed Liverpool’s defense into one of the meanest backlines in the world. However, Van Dijk has stated that there is no way that he can be compared to Messi who scored a staggering 51 goals last season.
While speaking to reporters the 28-year-old Liverpool star said, “The people who vote made a decision and you have to accept it. That’s just the case and as players, you can’t compare me and Messi because it’s totally different. I’m very proud to be here.”
In his first full season with the Merseyside giants, Van Dijk helped Liverpool to the Champions League title and also recording the highest ever points for the club ever since its formation back in 1892. But although Liverpool finished second in the Premier League table, Van Dijk claimed that he is not disappointed with his club not losing out on the FIFA Best Player of the Year Award.
Van Dijk explained, “Disappointed? You can’t be disappointed, I’m just very happy to be here, to be in the team of the year, after the hard work and the good work we put in last year. Today, I, unfortunately, didn’t win but I’m not disappointed”
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds currently sit at the summit of the Premier League table and take on MK Dons in the League Cup on Wednesday night.
