Dutch footballer and perhaps the best defender of the day, Virgil Van Dijk has won UEFA Player of the Year and Defender of the Season award
Virgil Van Dijk beat greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to win the UEFA Player of the year award for the 2018-2019 season.
Netherland’s Virgil Van Dijk is the first Dutchman to win UEFA Men’s player of the year award.
Last year, Croatian footballer Luka Modric won this award. Star footballer Lionel Messi has won two times (2011 and 2015) in his career while Cristiano Ronaldo has won a record in 2014, 2016 and 2017.
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk is the first defender and the first Premier League player to win this prestigious award.
The 28-year-old Van Dijk was awarded as Man of the match in the final of Champions League 2019 against Tottenham. Virgil van Dijk also helped his national team Netherlands to reach the semis of the first season of Nation’s League.
In 2011, Virgil Van Dijk started his career with the Dutch football club Groningen. In the year 2018, the Dutch footballer joined Liverpool for a record fee of $90 million. He made an immediate impact on the team.
After his inclusion in the team as a center-back, Liverpool’s weak defense was turned into a strong defense. Virgil van Dijk’s individual dominance has been formidable.
In Virgil van Dijk’s 36 Premier League appearances this season, no opposition player has managed to complete a single dribble past the 28-year-old, according to the stats from Opta.
Van Dijk has won Premier League Player of the season and PFA Players’ Player of the Year award in 2018/2019. He is the first defender in 14 years, who won PFA Player of the Year award. The 28-year-old Dutch footballer is also nominated for the 2019 Best FIFA Men’s Player prize. He also won the Best Defender award.
Star footballer Lionel Messi bagged ‘Forward of the Season’ award for the 2018-2019 UEFA Champions League campaign.
Best Defender Van Dijk’s Liverpool peer Brazilian footballer Alisson Becker won ‘Goalkeeper of the Season’ award. His fellow Dutchman Frenkie De Jong won UEFA ‘Midfielder of the Season’ award.
England’s Lucy Bronze bagged UEFA Women’s Player of the Year award.
