3 reasons why Virgil Van Dijk is not the best defender in the world

#2 Van Dijk hasn't won many Trophies yet

Giorgio Chiellini with the scudetto

Yes. Football is a team sport. One player does not single-handedly win a trophy for a team. When that player is a defender, the odds are further stacked against him. This reason also makes it difficult for midfielders, defenders or goalkeepers to win the best player award above their attacking teammates after they win a trophy together.

However, football discussions or debates are validated by results which in turn produce trophies. Sergio Ramos, Diego Godin, Raphael Varane, Gerard Pique, Matts Hummels, and Giorgio Chiellini have all been indispensable members of title-winning teams for club or country or even both.

For all the talk concerning Van Dijk, Liverpool is the biggest team he has represented and the Scottish league and cup are the only trophies he has won in his career. When compared with this other household names who have been a vital part of several title-winning teams, then the Dutchman falls short considerably.

This is not to say that he will not win any other trophies in his career or that immediately he wins a trophy he becomes the best in the world. The best defender in the world must at least have consistently led or helped his team to effectively challenge for and win some titles.