Virgil van Dijk on 2019 Ballon d'Or & facing FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi in UEFA Champions League
Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk has adressed the recent support for the 2019 Ballon d'Or and the upcoming challenge of facing five-time winner Lionel Messi in the UEFA Champions League semi-final. The 2018/19 PFA Player of the Year has dismissed talk of winning the Ballon d'Or and insists he is fully focused on attempting to shackle 'out of this world' Messi in Europe's elite club competition. The 27-year-old who joined the Reds for £75million in January 2018 has developed into one of the finest defenders in Europe this season as Jurgen Klopp's side maintain challenge for their first league title in 29 years. But he maitains he still has plenty to prove to be considered alongside the continent's elite players, including Barca's all-time record goalscorer. "Nah, that's not something that's on my mind at all," the Netherlands captain said about the Ballon d'Or, as per the Daily Mail. "There are currently players walking around in this football world that are out of this world basically and they've been doing it for many years. "I'm very happy how I perform at the moment, how consistent I'm performing, that I'm fit as well. I think I just need to not look too far ahead. "Right now we're in a tight title race, in the Champions League semi-finals against a fantastic team, where probably the best players are playing so we just take it game by game. "For us now it's time to focus on Barcelona midweek and then we have a big game at Newcastle away as well so I won't look too far ahead and the only goals I will set are personal goals with Liverpool."