A Champions League winner and PFA player of the year, but could Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk's stellar 2019 get a whole lot better?

The Dutchman is odds-on favourite to win this year's Ballon d'Or - and told BBC Sport: "If I am rewarded for the season I had that would be unbelievable and I would be so proud."

Should he win? And who else is in the running? We take a look...

Who usually wins the Ballon d'Or?


Luka Modric won the Ballon d'Or last year, beating former club-mate Cristiano Ronaldo and two men who beat him in the World Cup final
The Ballon d'Or - the award for the world's best player - traditionally used to change hands most years - until the 10-year stranglehold that 6-4 second favourite Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo (five years each) had from 2008 to 2017.

That ended last year with Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric lifting football's most prestigious individual trophy after a Champions League final success and Croatia's run to the World Cup final.

So what do recent winners have in common? Usually they are forwards or creative midfielders - and normally they have just won the Champions League.

The last defender to win was Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 after leading the Azzurri to World Cup glory.

Since then, nine of the 12 winners (well, four names - Kaka, Ronaldo, Messi and Modric) have won the Champions League that season.

The only exceptions have been for outstanding goalscoring campaigns - Messi's 91 goals in 2012 and 60 in 2010, and Ronaldo's 66 in 2013.

In theory, the award is for a calendar year but it is mostly the previous campaign that is taken into consideration, with the shortlist usually named in October and winner announced in December.

tfash96:
Baba forget that rubbish bkos he's a midfield man doesn't matter.. Must everything be about goals.. I don't have much to argue with you.. Who in this world ever considered that croatia will reach quarter final let alone final b4 d tournament... He served as playmaker to them.. U re now telling me did he perform individually than Ronaldo.. Like u didn't watch world cup.. Don't lemme argue further... If modric didn't win last year they should give it to Ronaldo then yẹyẹ dey smell.. He used trophy to beat Messi and he used crazy n unforeseen individual performance to beat Ronaldo.. Croatian team was centred around him last year

U saying nonsense ... So now it's not about goals cos Ronaldo powered that season... Then Messi doesn't deserve it cos he only performed by goals

Beverlyjean:


Go and remove him from the list na... Pained Messi fans... Messi wasn't better than Ronaldo last season... Messi only performed in a league that he is used to and a league that had no competition last season... U wanna use that to compare Ronaldo that joined a new league and still performed and won serie A best in his first season. Still performed in the nations league as top scorer... Ur Messi was a disaster in the CL against Liverpool throwing a way a 3.0 first leg win and was a disgrace in the Copa America.. . U want to dash him world best for only shining and winning in a league that has no competition

so Seria A is more competitive than Laliga??

Are you ok??

gurunlocker:




Are you saying Ronaldo league has competition? Messi was a disaster in CL? I guess that was why he finished as top scorer and provider?

Let me say something into your brain. Football is a team game, theres no rule that says one player should be the one to score.

For example, Ronaldo scored against Ajax and did his best, but if another had stood up and score, then they would not have been kicked out.

In Liverpool case after loosing first leg and their best player (Sarah), did they give up? Didn't someone else stood up in Mane and origi?

In Barcelona case, Messi carried the team in the first leg, why can't the other players also contribute in the second leg? Don't they have a striker that doesn't score in the UCL? Must the goal always come from Messi?

So please reason well before spewing rubbish...

Read thru what u typed again and see how u shot urself on ur foot multiple times... That's y I don't like arguing with u Messi fans... U guys are so biased

Beverlyjean:


Messi won 6 and not 7... Besides, Madrid was rebuilding and were never as balanced as Barca, but Ronaldos goals just kept them going and since he left, that team has been a disaster

Just hear yourself. Ronaldo goals kept them going, by dropping a disaster class in the league. If Ronaldo goals kept them going, it means that's why he keeps standing out. So don't cry because Messi stood out this season even with the disappointment of barca.

Beverlyjean:



Read thru what u typed again and see how u shot urself on ur foot multiple times... That's y I don't like arguing with u Messi fans... U guys are so biased

Point out to where I shot myself in the leg!

I've been reading your post since, you do not sound intelligent....

kingDELE:
so Seria A is more competitive than Laliga??

Are you ok??

Is la Liga more competitive that seria a?? The only reason it seemed competitive was because of Ronaldo... Since he left, its been a one way traffic

Beverlyjean:


Go and remove him from the list na... Pained Messi fans... Messi wasn't better than Ronaldo last season... Messi only performed in a league that he is used to and a league that had no competition last season... U wanna use that to compare Ronaldo that joined a new league and still performed and won serie A best in his first season. Still performed in the nations league as top scorer... Ur Messi was a disaster in the CL against Liverpool throwing a way a 3.0 first leg win and was a disgrace in the Copa America.. . U want to dash him world best for only shining and winning in a league that has no competition

Disaster of a comment
Even Mbappe was better than Ronaldo last season!!!
A player that was hiding in Juventus until UNL semi final, smh!

Chanchit:



Just hear yourself. Ronaldo goals kept them going, by dropping a disaster class in the league. If Ronaldo goals kept them going, it means that's why he keeps standing out. So don't cry because Messi stood out this season even with the disappointment of barca.

Ronaldo stood out for juventus and serie a... Ronaldo had been winning top scorer in CL for 6consecutive yrs... Messis first in 4yrs , person no go hear word

Chanchit:



May e you didn't know Ronaldo won two la-liga while Messi won 7 during Ronaldo's stay in Madrid.

U are not even well informed... Atletico won one

My reasonable people, abeg ignore Beverlyjean

It's obvious he or she has nothing upstairs

I always know someone set of Ronaldo fan not to be sensible, but your own is like zee world.

Charleslewizy:
If FIFA wanna be fair....den its definitely
Virgil Van Dijk

for avoiding dribbles or for being carried by Origi when it matter most??

Beverlyjean:


U saying nonsense ... So now it's not about goals cos Ronaldo powered that season... Then Messi doesn't deserve it cos he only performed by goals

maybe u should watch Messi's games again last season.. Which Messi performed by goals only last season? U don't know what u re saying..

U mean he didn't dribble,didn't create chances,didn't give unbelievable passes? Maybe u should be watching games of Messi once in a while

robosky02:

So guys who do you think will win this one


Christiano Ronaldo is up there

Except FIFA wnt to end the duopoli or messi and ronaldo

GOAT Messi of course

eni4real:
Disaster of a comment
Even Mbappe was better than Ronaldo last season!!!
A player that was hiding in Juventus until UNL semi final, smh!

Disaster and won serie a player of the season? Scoring 21 goals in less than 30 games? And scored all of Juve's goals in the champions league knockout stages?
Anyway, Van Dijk is winning the Fifa award and ballon d or. Messi can manage the UEFA player of the year(if dem dash am).

Beverlyjean:


U are not even well informed... Atletico won one

If missing atm means I'm not informed, then it means you are running out of Defense.

Beverlyjean:


Is la Liga more competitive that seria a?? The only reason it seemed competitive was because of Ronaldo... Since he left, its been a one way traffic

U guys are just shouting since he left. When did he left?? Just one year and u are judging.

The most one way traffic in European competition is Seria A. for the past 7 years, only Juventus winning the trophy. and in Laliga, for the last 7 years, d trophy has been shared.

pls what is ur own definition of one way traffic

Messi scored 70 goals in all competition and Cristiano Ronaldo scored 38 goals. And he scored that goal playing as a playmaker (attacking midfielder) compared to Cristiano who's an out and out striker.

Talking about throwing away a lead, what about Juventus who were beaten at home by a young and inexperienced Ajax team? At least, Barca defended the homecourt but Juve can't even defend their homecourt! Which is worse


O pari

Beverlyjean:


Go and remove him from the list na... Pained Messi fans... Messi wasn't better than Ronaldo last season... Messi only performed in a league that he is used to and a league that had no competition last season... U wanna use that to compare Ronaldo that joined a new league and still performed and won serie A best in his first season. Still performed in the nations league as top scorer... Ur Messi was a disaster in the CL against Liverpool throwing a way a 3.0 first leg win and was a disgrace in the Copa America.. . U want to dash him world best for only shining and winning in a league that has no competition

Beverlyjean:


The guy discredited Ronaldo.. how can a normal human being say he dint deserve to b on the list... The guy joined a new league and was best player in that league in his first season... How many footballers can achieve that?? Messi has been in his comfort zone all his career... No difference between juventus in serie a and Barca in la Liga... If not for Ronaldo, Barca would also b counting their 10th la Liga in 11 yrs

Piatek was new in the SerieA too and still top Ronaldo in goals. .. Don't say that Ronaldo is older because 36 years old Quagrilera was the golden boot winner in that Oldies League!!
Did Piatek or Quagrilera win any trophy, no. If Higuain can win a double in Juventus as their target man. Either Piatek or Quagrilera would surely win the SerieA with Juventus... Juventus has won 7 consecutive league titles without Ronaldo.
That SerieA win is nothing special!! It is just like PSG winning the Ligue1!!!
I think FIFA want to calm Ronaldo after what Modric did to him last season!!! But it should not be at the expense of Allison and Bernaldo Silva!!!

Ronaldo was hiding in Juventus until the Semi final of the UEFA Nations League tho.. .
Boom, he won for club and country.. What a short cut to success!!!
I pity Bernaldo Silva tho... He will never be rewarded as the best Portugal player!!!

Evangkatsoulis:


Disaster and won serie a player of the season? Scoring 21 goals in less than 30 games? And scored all of Juve's goals in the champions league knockout stages?
Anyway, Van Dijk is winning the Fifa award and ballon d or. Messi can manage the UEFA player of the year(if dem dash am).

Let me ask you a question!

About the player of the season, do you agree that was given to him because of marketing and more exposure he brought to Seria A and someone else should have won it?

If you think he deserve it, why?


You said he scored all of Juve knockout stage goals? What was he doing in the Group stage? I remember he scored just 1 goal.... If others didn't score, will they even qualify for knockout stage?

Answer reasonably.

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eni4real:
Piatek was new in the SerieA too and still top Ronaldo in goals. .. Don't say that Ronaldo is older because 36 years old Quagrilera was the golden boot winner in that Oldies League!!
Did Piatek or Quagrilera win any trophy, no. If Higuain can win a double in Juventus as their target man. Either Piatek or Quagrilera would surely win the SerieA with Juventus... Juventus has won 7 consecutive league titles without Ronaldo.
That SerieA win is nothing special!! It is just like PSG winning the Ligue1!!!
I think FIFA want to calm Ronaldo after what Modric did to him last season!!! But it should not be at the expense of Allison and Bernaldo Silva!!!

Ronaldo was hiding in Juventus until the Semi final of the UEFA Nations League tho.. .
Boom, he won for club and country.. What a short cut to success!!!
I pity Bernaldo Silva tho... He will never be rewarded as the best Portugal player!!!

Thank you brother, thank you.... Let us make them understand! They will soon run away.

They thought we don't follow all leagues, we do...

Beverlyjean:


Ronaldo stood out for juventus and serie a... Ronaldo had been winning top scorer in CL for 6consecutive yrs... Messis first in 4yrs , person no go hear word

Who has won more European Golden shoe??

That is a true mark of an excellent goal scorer!! !

Can you imagine this kind of injustice? Three Liverpool players that only won just one champions league are all present in the list.... Even Harry Keane that won no single trophy and wasn't even important in the champions league progression and wasn't even a highest goal scorer is there in the list.... even Small boys who knew nothing about the game(de ligte and dejong) are there............BUT THE ALMIGHTY BENARDO SILVA the best player in the world according to guardiolar, the man who single handedly won Portugal Europe trophy and was the best player of the tornament, ...mancity best player of the season for an all conquering and all winning mancity side..the only player who won five trophies for both club and country last season..... and yet he wasn't on this list.
What kind of evil eufa and fifa list is this?...
Mark my word, mancity will keep on winning until fifa and eufa repent

uunwanaobong3:
Can you imagine this kind of injustice? Three Liverpool players that only won just one champions league are all present in the list.... Even Harry Keane that won no single trophy and wasn't even important in the champions league progression and wasn't even a highest goal scorer is there in the list.... even Small boys who knew nothing about the game(de ligte and dejong) are there............BUT THE ALMIGHTY BENARDO SILVA the best player in the world according to guardiolar, the man who single handedly won Portugal Europe trophy and was the best player of the tornament, ...mancity best player of the season for an all conquering and all winning mancity side..the only player who won five trophies for both club and country last season..... and yet he wasn't on this list.
What kind of evil eufa and fifa list is this?...
Mark my word, mancity will keep on winning until fifa and eufa repent

Thank you! Even Allison isn't there.... Even if they will later remove him.

eni4real:
Piatek was new in the SerieA too and still top Ronaldo in goals. .. Don't say that Ronaldo is older because 36 years old Quagrilera was the golden boot winner in that Oldies League!!
Did Piatek or Quagrilera win any trophy, no. If Higuain can win a double in Juventus as their target man. Either Piatek or Quagrilera would surely win the SerieA with Juventus... Juventus has won 7 consecutive league titles without Ronaldo.
That SerieA win is nothing special!! It is just like PSG winning the Ligue1!!!
I think FIFA want to calm Ronaldo after what Modric did to him last season!!! But it should not be at the expense of Allison and Bernaldo Silva!!!

Ronaldo was hiding in Juventus until the Semi final of the UEFA Nations League tho.. .
Boom, he won for club and country.. What a short cut to success!!!
I pity Bernaldo Silva tho... He will never be rewarded as the best Portugal player!!!

If Higuain that is useless to Chelsea can win Seria A as Juventus top man, aswear even our Iwobi will win Seria A back 2 back if he becomes Juventus top man 2day.

gurunlocker:


Let me ask you a question!

About the player of the season, do you agree that was given to him because of marketing and more exposure he brought to Seria A and someone else should have won it?

If you think he deserve it, why?


You said he scored all of Juve knockout stage goals? What was he doing in the Group stage? I remember he scored just 1 goal.... If others didn't score, will they even qualify for knockout stage?

Answer reasonably.

He was being carried in the group stage

Evangkatsoulis:


Disaster and won serie a player of the season? Scoring 21 goals in less than 30 games? And scored all of Juve's goals in the champions league knockout stages?
Anyway, Van Dijk is winning the Fifa award and ballon d or. Messi can manage the UEFA player of the year(if dem dash am).

Serie A player of the season for coming 4th in goal chart and coming 3rd in assist chart in the same SerieA!!!
The SerieA should be ashamed of themselves.. They give Ronaldo that award at the expense of an Italian who had an excellent tournament (Quagrilera will never be better than he was last season!!) just because of CR7 fame power..

Juventus will win SerieA even if Ronaldo decide to play only the UCL throughout the season... Higuain has done it for them in the previous season.. SerieA win by Juventus should not affect the deserved rewards of Quagrilera for his fantastic season!!
He deserves to be the SerieA best player ahead of Ronaldo! (26 goals 8 assists) is better than (21 goals 8 assists) obviously!!!

Beverlyjean:


The guy discredited Ronaldo.. how can a normal human being say he dint deserve to b on the list... The guy joined a new league and was best player in that league in his first season... How many footballers can achieve that?? Messi has been in his comfort zone all his career... No difference between juventus in serie a and Barca in la Liga... If not for Ronaldo, Barca would also b counting their 10th la Liga in 11 yrs

maybe u dnt know the history ofa Liga well, Barca has never been winning la liga back to back plenty times when Zidane and kaka, are at real Madrid, they started that rubbish during the era of Ronaldo,

Surely Messi has no chance of winning this or the ballon d'or with his disasterclass at the Copa america and his impending ban. He should have been replaced with Bernardo Silva.

eni4real:
Serie A player of the season for coming 4th in goal chart and coming 3rd in assist chart in the same SerieA!!!
The SerieA should be ashamed of themselves.. They give Ronaldo that award at the expense of an Italian who had an excellent tournament (Quagrilera will never be better than he was last season!!) just because of CR7 fame power..

Juventus will win SerieA even if Ronaldo decide to play only the UCL throughout the season... Higuain has done it for them in the previous season.. SerieA win by Juventus should not affect the deserved rewards of Quagrilera for his fantastic season!!
He deserves to be the SerieA best player ahead of Ronaldo! (26 goals 8 assists) is better than (21 goals 8 assists) obviously!!!

He even came 4th, piatek was ahead of him...


They definitely gave him because of marketing, that's why he keep appearing on nominations.