Ballon d'Or 2019: Football's best players pick their winner for the coveted award this year

#2 Virgil van Dijk (Pick: Lionel Messi)

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final

Virgil van Dijk remains one of the two overwhelming favorites to win the Ballon d'Or this year but the defender has downplayed his chances and has picked Lionel Messi as the man to win the award instead.

The duo went head-to-head in the Champions League semi-finals which saw Liverpool establish one of the best comebacks in Europe to deny Barcelona a place in the finals of the competition.

The Reds went on to win the European title after defeating Tottenham Hotspur in a rather unremarkable final at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

Speaking to the media after the victory, the Dutchman said, "I think Messi is the best player in the world. He should win the Ballon d'Or."

"So I'm not thinking of that. But if I win, I'll take it. Messi should win it though. He is the best in the world, whether he's in the final or not."