Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk missed out to Barcelona’s Lionel Messi for the FIFA Best Men’s Player award last night, and Reds fans have been venting their frustration at the decision.
The Barca star scored 51 goals and provided 22 assists in 50 appearances for Barca last season, but supporters on Twitter believe van Dijk’s contributions as a centre-back surpassed that of the Argentinian wizard over the past year:
absolute joke this is.
— Severin Zurbuchen (@soerenzurbuchen) September 23, 2019
Did they not watch the 2nd leg of the semi?
— Alan Norris (@ALANNOR35239224) September 23, 2019
He didn't deserve it at all
— ibrahim mahamud (@ibrahimmahamu17) September 23, 2019
Scandalous!
— Leroy Hanslo (@Im_LH) September 24, 2019
Has April 1st come early ?
— Chris Mabberley (@themabbs) September 23, 2019
Rigged indeed
— Namo (@NamanJuma) September 23, 2019
Messi is a great player but honestly this year he ddnt deserve this
— mengezi ncube (@mengezincube02) September 23, 2019
The best player imho shouldn’t always be the 1 with lots of goals in a season. That’ll be another award for best player with most goal contribution. But best player should be one who singlehandedly help his team to greater performance & achievements for club and country.
— Iam Baba (@iambabalive) September 23, 2019
Lets put it like this, Virgil set a new par for a role model Defender. Simple as that
— Nico Hayurisadi Andreawan (@nicohayurisadia) September 24, 2019
BS. How is that possible. GOAT but was a flat track bully last year. Big Virg lost it cause Messi hadn't won it in a while.
— Colin Heyes (@thek0p) September 24, 2019
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp did win the coach of the year, while Alisson Becker picked up the Goalkeeper of the Year award.
However, many have questioned the inclusion of Real Madrid players in the Best World XI with the likes of Marcelo and Sergio Ramos being included ahead of Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Whether the Ballon d’Or will come up with a different winner than Messi, we shall have to wait and see. The announcement is set to take place at the beginning of December.