Van Dijk beats Messi & Ronaldo to win UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award
Vigil van Dijk beats off competition from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo whom he was shortlisted alongside with for the gong.
He also won the UEFA Champions League positional award for the best defender.
The Dutchman played a key role as Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League and also helped the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League, finishing runners-up.
Eighty coaches from the Europa League and Champions League will vote, as will 55 journalists who have chosen by UEFA.
Below is the full list of the UEFA Champions League positional award:
Best goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Best defender: Van Dijk (Liverpool)
Best midfielder: Christian Eriksen (Tottenham)
Best forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Below are the players who were shortlisted for the UEFA Champions League positional awards:
Best goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona).
Best defender: Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax, now of Juventus).
Best midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax, now of Barcelona), Christian Eriksen (Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool).
Best forward: Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo.