#1 Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Stand-out Premier League defender Virgil van Dijk joins his attacking teammates Mo Salah and Sadio Mane in the Ballon d'Or favourites list.
The Dutchman emerged as the most impressive signing in the English top flight as he commanded the centre of defence to help the Reds maintain one of the best defensive records in the league. To put things into perspective, no player has been able to dribble past the centre-back since March 2018.
The former Southampton man has been lauded for his performances all season and he even went on to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season awards. The former feat made him the first defender to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award since Chelsea legend John Terry in 2005.
Van Dijk is believed to be one of the main favourites to win the Ballon d'Or. Should Liverpool win the Champions League, his chances at yet another individual trophy would be even higher.