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#1 Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
The Liverpool defender’s rise in world football has been nothing short of a fairy tale. Virgil van Dijk deserves all the accolades and praise showered on him, because he truly is the best defender in the world at the moment. The Dutchman is the reigning UEFA Men’s Player of the year as well as the UEFA Defender of the season and also finished second in the 2019 Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year as well as the 2019 Ballon d’Or.
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Van Dijk’s tryst with football started at Willem II, where he played initially as a right-back as a kid before growth spurge prompted him to switch to a central defender position. He joined Groningen in 2010 on a free transfer and after struggling initially, soon sealed his berth in the first eleven. After 3 seasons, the Dutchman joined Celtic in the summer of 2013. At the Celtic Park, Van Dijk played for 3 seasons, powering the Hoops to 2 Scottish Premiership titles and 1 Scottish League Cup.
In September 2015, the Dutchman joined Southampton and steadily developed into a force to reckon with. His performances drew a lot of praise and van Dijk was soon under the radar of every European powerhouse. Liverpool emerged the winner in the race for his signature and made him the costliest defender of the world at that time when he joined the Red in January 2018.
At Anfield, van Dijk had an instant impact, turning Liverpool’s fortunes around and helping them reach the UEFA Champions League final, which they lost to Real Madrid. In his first full season with the Red, the Dutchman was practically unconquerable at times, and he guided his team to the UEFA Champions League title. Van Dijk has since also lifted the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup with Liverpool so far, summing up a tremendous 2019 for his team. He is the best Dutch footballer of the last decade.
Playing Style: The Dutchman is a strong defender who is blessed with pace and is also fantastic in the air. He is very good with the ball at his feet and regularly initiates attacks with cross-field balls from the back. His biggest asset is his calmness on the pitch, a trait that van Dijk has successfully transmitted into his team.
