Virgil van Dijk is “not the best player in the world”, says fellow Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo considered to remain at the top of the global pecking order.
Liverpool's star defender is acknowledged as being “special”, and has already shown as much by being recognised by UEFA as their Player of the Year for 2018-19.
Van Dijk is also on the three-man shortlist for the FIFA Best award and is expected to be in the running for the 2019 Ballon d’Or.
Editors' Picks
Many believe he has done enough to follow the lead of Luka Modric and keep Messi and Ronaldo away from a sixth Golden Ball of their respective careers.