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Glasgow Live
Sport
Ben Banks

Celtic hero nominated for Ballon d'Or as he competes with superstars to be named world's best

Celtic took him in nine years ago to hand him a chance at UK football - and nine years later Virgil Van Dijk could be crowed the best player in the world. The Liverpool defender has been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award, an honour bestowed upon a player voted as the best individual in football currently.

He ranks ahead of serial winner Lionel Messi, who is not on the shortlist for the first time since 2005. Anfield teammates Darwin Nunez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Fabinho have also been nominated for the award alongside players like Real Madrid's Karim Benzema and Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Van Dijk moved to Celtic in 2013 after time in his native Netherlands at Groningen and made himself a fans favourite at Parkhead with a string of strong performances during his two-year stint, leaving in 2015 for Southampton and Premier League competition.

READ MORE: Alex Collado to Celtic latest as Hoops learn transfer blow with star's Barcelona exit 'very close'

Now 31, the central defender won two Premiership titles and a League Cup during his spell in Glasgow.

He has been with Liverpool in 2018 and moved to Southampton in 2018 for a report of fee of £75 million.

Celtic were reported to have received 10% of Van Dijk's transfer fee, due to a sell-on clause placed in his Southampton contract.

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2022 Men's Ballon d'Or nominees

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

Joao Cancelo (Manchester City)

Casemiro (Real Madrid)

Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)

Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)

Luis Diaz (Liverpool)

Fabinho (Liverpool)

Phil Foden (Manchester City)

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Sebastien Haller (Borussia Dortmund)

Harry Kane (Tottenham)

Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

Rafael Leao (AC Milan)

Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona)

Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City)

Mike Maignan (AC Milan)

Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain)

Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich)

Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)

Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)

Son Heung-min (Tottenham)

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)

READ NEXT:

- Celtic transfer latest as Hoops move for EPL midfielder ruled out with 'one or two irons in fire'

- Tom Rogic Celtic stint assessed as Hoops hero pinpoints his 'regret' over 'top quality' midfielder

- Ange Postecoglou in Celtic improvement call as he states how Gavin Strachan is helping Harry Kewell

- Premier Sports Cup schedule confirmed as Celtic and Rangers learn TV slot times for last 16

- Scott Brown makes 'bullied' statement as Celtic legend suffers 'disappointing' Fleetwood start

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