Rio Ferdinand believes Virgil van Dijk is the best centre-half on the planet but he did not deserve to beat Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Champions League Player of the Season award.
Liverpool’s imperious defender played a pivotal role in the Reds’ march to glory last season which culminated in an astonishing semi-final comeback win over Barcelona, before he gave a man-of-the-match display, shutting out Harry Kane in the final against Premier League rivals Tottenham.
Whilte Ronaldo’s European season ended in disappointment with a shock quarter-final defeat against Ajax, the former Real Madrid superstar played a key role in securing a domestic double for Juventus in what was his first year in Italy.
Messi, similarly, helped Barcelona continue their stranglehold of the Spanish league title, while he also scored 12 goals during a prolific Champions League campaign. Read more