Ruud Gullit believes Virgil van Dijk should have won the Ballon d'Or in 2019 but admits the Dutchman may have missed his opportunity to secure the award.
Van Dijk helped Liverpool to Champions League glory in June and has remained a key part of the side closing in on Premier League glory under Jurgen Klopp.
When asked whether the 28-year-old deserved the Ballon d'Or - which was ultimately won by Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi - Gullit told JOE: “Yeah, I think he should.
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“But, you know, you can’t say Messi didn’t deserve it either. But if there was a possibility to make a stand for a defender, it was this year.”
Gullit added: “The message of the Ballon d’Or was, he’s never going to win it again.
“[Arrigo] Sacchi already said that Van Dijk couldn’t win it because, otherwise, [Franco] Baresi should have won it already.
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“If Baresi didn’t win it, why should he win it? That’s what he said. He didn’t say he didn’t deserve it, but he said they’re never going to give it to a defender. That’s what he said, and that’s a pity.
“That’s why I say, it almost looks like they say ‘Look, you’re never going to be a contender anymore for the Ballon d’Or’.”
Fabio Cannavaro was the last defender to win the award after captaining Italy to World Cup glory in 2006.
