Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has insisted there will be “no losers” when the Ballon d'Or winner is announced in Paris today.
The 28-year-old ranks among the leading contenders to take home the most prestigious individual honour in European club football.
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi looks most likely to claim the award, but the five-time winner faces stiff competition from Van Dijk.
The bedrock on which Liverpool built their Champions League triumph, the Premier League star also captained his country to the Nations League final and was named UEFA Men's Player of the Year in August.
“I am going to be there for a reason and there are no losers on the evening,” Van Dijk said.
“I am very proud to be in that bracket, to be in there for the way I performed with the team last year and also with the country.
“It is just something to be proud of because not a lot of players go there and are up for these kinds of things.”
See Also | ‘I Don’t Deserve To Win Ballon d’Or This Year’ – Mbappe
While a win for Van Dijk would be his first, another for Messi would move the incredible Argentinian clear of Cristiano Ronaldo and into out-and-out first on the leaderboard.
This article was most recently revised and updated 5 years ago
