Liverpool star’s Ballon d’Or campaign is now UNDER WAY

Liverpool could end up with a good few players in the running for the Ballon d’Or award. One star’s campaign is well under way, though.

Back in 2018, Virgil van Dijk finished second in the Ballon d’Or voting. The Dutchman had enjoyed a truly remarkable year with Liverpool, transforming them from a top-four team into Champions League finalists within a few months.

Then came a brilliant start to the 2018/19 season. Everyone saw the impact Van Dijk had on Liverpool - it was one of the most transformative effects you’ll ever see from just one player.

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And that’s why he came second to Lionel Messi. Only, Van Dijk didn’t just come second - he lost by seven votes. That’s the tightest difference between first and second there’s ever been.

If Liverpool had won the Champions League final, or if Messi had been just a tiny bit slower with his goal return, Van Dijk would have won the Ballon d’Or that year. There’s little doubt that such a year would have won it this time around - the Liverpool star was one of the unfortunate ones to compete with Messi.

But perhaps things can be fixed this time.

Virgil van Dijk’s Ballon d’Or campaign

Defensively, Van Dijk has been sensational this season. He’s marshalled a defence that’s conceded just one Champions League goal in four games and just six in 10 Premier League games. Liverpool’s attack has been brilliant but their defence has been impenetrable at times.

The captain has been back to his dominant best - something best seen in Ibrahima Konate’s games. The Frenchman was utterly dominant against Victor Boniface when Liverpool beat Bayer Leverkusen and he’s looked that way in just about every game of late.

And Konate has been incredible - this is no comment on his ability or form. But the reason he’s looked quite this dominant is because he’s asked to do an absolutely ridiculous amount defensively.

For good reason, too - forwards, like Boniface, try and avoid Van Dijk at all costs. He’s just too dominant.

Van Dijk has been near-imperious this year and while he may not be quite at the heights of 2018, he’s still well his way to recapturing something near that level. Liverpool’s defensive form shows that, as does simply watching him from game to game.

If the Reds maintain this form and finish with silverware, Van Dijk will be in the Ballon d’Or discussion as their leader and defensive lynchpin and rightfully so. He might just find a way to win it.

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