Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp believes Virgil van Dijk deserves to win this year’s Ballon d'Or award ahead of Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, Eurasia Diary reports citing Daily Star.
Messi and Van Dijk are the two favourites to win the prestigious individual accolade in December with the likes of Sadio Mane closely behind.
"If you give the Ballon d'Or to the best player of this generation then you should give it always to Lionel Messi. That's how it is," Klopp said.
"But if you give it to the best player of last season, then it was Virgil van Dijk.
"I don't know exactly how it will work but that is how I see it.
"The best player of all? That's Lionel. Best player of last season? That's Virgil. We will see."