Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has emerged as the favourite to win the 2019 Ballon d’Or.
The Dutch defender has enjoyed a superb season for Jurgen Klopp’s side, winning the Champions League and narrowly missing out on Premier League success.
The 27-year-old’s performances led to him being crowned PFA Player of the Year, and the centre-back’s performances have now seen him installed as the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or.
Van Dijk will attempt to win further silverware with the national side this summer, when the Netherlands captain leads his side out against Portugal in the final of the Nations League on Sunday.
According to Oddschecker, Van Dijk has moved ahead of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi as the odds-on favourite to win the award at 8/11.
Real Madrid star Luka Modric broke the 10-year Ronaldo-Messi stranglehold on the award last year, and Van Dijk could follow in the Croatian’s footsteps in 2019.
Should the Dutchman win the award, he would become the first defender to win the Ballon d’Or since Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
Odds to win Ballon d’Or – Van Dijk 8/11, Messi, 6/5, Mohamed Salah 20/1, Sadio Mane 20/1, Cristiano Ronaldo 25/1
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