Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Why Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk should beat Lionel Messi to Ballon d’Or - Barnes
LIVERPOOL legend John Barnes has backed Virgil van Dijk to beat Lionel Messi to the Ballon d’Or after a stunning season.
Virgil van Dijk: Lionel Messi is still the best player in the world
Van Dijk inspired Liverpool to Champions League glory on Saturday night with a man-of-the-match performance in the final as they beat Tottenham 2-0 in Madrid.
And Barnes says he should now be rewarded with football’s biggest individual prize.
Asked if he could win it by talkSPORT, former winger Barnes replied: “Very possibly.
“Normally when you look at the Ballon d’Or winners, they’re either attacking midfield players or centre-forwards.
“They are goalscorers and eye-catching players.
“But there haven’t been any of those types of players who have really set the world alight this season.
“So from a point of consistency and from a point of success, for me Van Dijk would have to be the man.”
Van Dijk was quizzed on the possibility of winning it himself immediately after their Champions League win.
However, he backed Messi after watching him score 51 goals in another prolific campaign from the Barcelona star.
"I think Messi is the best player in the world and I think he deserves it as long as he plays," Van Dijk said about the five-time winner.
"The Ballon d'Or is not something I am thinking of, but if it happens by any chance I will obviously take it.
"I don't think there is any case and I think that Messi is still the best player in the world and it doesn't matter if he isn't in the Champions League final."
Former Manchester United and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho also had his say on the matter.
He said: “I think Van Dijk, why not a defender?
“He didn’t win the Premier League in spite of being the best player, or considered the best player.
“But if Holland manage to go to Portugal [in the Nations League] and win a small trophy, but a trophy – that can play [a role in deciding who should win the Ballon d’Or].”