Performance analysis of 2019 Ballon d’Or nominees for the period Jan to Oct' 19, Part 3: Defenders

#4 Marquinhos (Paris St. Germain, Brazil)

Marquinhos predominantly plays as a full-back but his versatility has also seen him don roles in defensive midfield and right-back positions. Marquinhos' composure on the ball, positional sense and ability from set-pieces makes him an integral part for his club as well as national team.

The 25-year-old Brazilian has scored 19 goals in 153 games during 5 seasons at his present club Paris St. Germain. Marquinhos also featured for Brazil at the 2019 Copa America, where he won his first senior title for his national team.

#3 Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)

Virgil van Dijk is renowned for his ability in central defence. He has strength in the air, sureness in possession and a great sense of timing with tackles to break up rival attacks.

The 28-year-old, who is also adept at set-pieces, is an accomplished goalscorer too. He netted two knockout stage goals as Liverpool won their first Champions League title in 14 years.

Van Dijk displays amazing agility for his height, and aided by his pace and timing, is an indispensable part of the defence of Liverpool and Netherlands.

About the author

Bhargav is a veteran sports journalist and editor at Sportskeeda, with a rich professional experience of 17 years, working for the likes of Siemens and Bombay Dyeing. An avid football and tennis follower for over three decades, Bhargav uses his vast knowledge and experience, attention to detail, an unbiased yet interesting writing style, and thorough research to craft insightful articles, which have raked in over 18 million reads so far.

Bhargav supports Italy at national level, a team steeped in tradition and history according to him. He still harbors the heartbreak from the Azzurri’s 1994 FIFA World Cup final defeat against Brazil, and protagonist-turned-antagonist from the game, ‘Divine Ponytail’ Roberto Baggio is his all-time favorite player. His favorite manager is Marcelo Lippi, who ended Italy’s 24-year wait for the World Cup trophy, winning it in 2006.

Outside Europe’s top five leagues, he follows the MLS following Lionel Messi’s move in 2023 but favors Cristiano Ronaldo in the G.O.A.T. debate. During his free time, Bhargav enjoys driving off to new places and singing.

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Edited by Musab Abid