LONDON • An unstoppable force will meet an unmovable object as Lionel Messi comes up against Virgil van Dijk tomorrow, with Liverpool travelling to Barcelona for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
But, while the Netherlands skipper is relishing putting the shackles on the Argentina talisman, the Ballon d'Or award is not a match-up he intends to win.
Speaking after being crowned the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Player of the Year by his peers on Sunday, van Dijk said: "(World Player of the Year) is not something that's on my mind at all.
"There are currently players walking around in this football world that are out of this world (Messi is a five-time Ballon d'Or winner) and they've been doing it for many years.
"I'm very happy how I perform at the moment, how consistent I'm performing, that I'm fit as well. I just need to not look too far ahead."
He is the fourth Dutchman to win English football's most prestigious individual prize and the first defender since Chelsea captain John Terry in 2005.
Van Dijk's compatriot Vivianne Miedema was named Women's Player of the Year after scoring 22 times to lead Arsenal Women to their first title since 2012.
2005Â
Virgil van Dijk is the first defender since Chelsea's John Terry in 2005 to win the award.
0
No opposition player has dribbled past the Dutch defender in any of his 36 league appearances this season.
Besides facing Barcelona, Liverpool are aiming to overtake Manchester City's one-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Van Dijk, 27, said: "Right now, we're in a tight title race, (also) in the Champions League semi-finals against a fantastic team, where probably the best players are playing, so we just take it game by game.
"For us, now it's time to focus on Barcelona midweek and then we have a big game at Newcastle away (on Saturday) as well."
However, he admitted the accolade was "special" and said: "I'm very proud and honoured to receive it. If you see the standard of strikers or playmakers we have in the league, it's unbelievable."
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp was equally thrilled for van Dijk, who joined in January last year, jokingly referencing his £75 million (S$132 million) transfer fee as "a very, very small price". He said: "I'm really proud it's the second time in a row (Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was last year's winner).
"From the first moment (of signing), I was so excited about the opportunity to work together and now you are the man - at least for this season!"
Pundits also hailed van Dijk as a worthy winner, with former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer calling him "immense", while ex-Reds midfielder Danny Murphy talked up his "tremendous blend of athleticism and powers of recovery".
Manchester City's Raheem Sterling, 24, won the PFA Young Player of the Year award and yesterday was named Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, DPA
Andre Gray came off the bench to earn Watford a late 2-1 Premier League win at home to Leicester City in Brendan Rodgers' first game in charge of the Foxes. Jamie Vardy's equaliser seemed to have earned Rodgers' men a draw at Vicarage Road on Sunday after the striker cancelled out an early header by Troy Deeney 15 minutes from time.
Latest WATFORD | The Straits Times
Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform, used as educational technology in schools and other educational institutions. Its learning games, "Kahoots", are multiple-choice quizzes that allow user generation and can be accessed via a web browser, phone, or the app itself.
Kahoot! Blog
Football: Free curry fish head, bak chor mee for Liverpool fans if Reds beat Tottenham to win Champions League The Straits Times Eric Cantona's desperate appeal to Liverpool and Spurs fans to be
Newspapers | Media | Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/entertainment/a-perfect-eagle-eyed-shot/
Football: Free curry fish head and bak chor mee for Liverpool fans if Reds beat Tottenham to win Champions League Fundamental problem between US and China is 'mutual lack of strategic trust': PM Lee Pay $5 for a Mao Shan Wang durian
ardent - 雅虎香港 搜尋結果
The Reds projected lineup for 2019. (Yahoo Sports) Who will be the Reds' fantasy breakout? Cincinnati's outfield is awfully cluttered following the team's offseason deal with the Dodgers, a
Cincinnati Reds to add minor-league team in Appalachian League
Bayern Munich could battle Chelsea and Atletico Madrid for the signing of OGC Nice star Youcef Atal. The 22-year-old has been in exceptional form for his side in Ligue 1 this season, and according to a report from The Telegraph, Niko Kovac's men could be keen to make a move this summer.
Teen Mom 2: Chelsea Gets Aubree 2 Pairs of Glasses
Football: The great comebacks in Champions League history
Cardiff earn first away win with late Camarasa strike at Leicester December 29, 2018 Huffington News Huffington News Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v Cardiff City - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - December 29, 2018 Cardiff City's Victor Camarasa scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Cardiff earn first away win with late Camarasa strike at
Football: Hougang find inspiration in skipper Zulfahmi Arifin to climb to second in the SPL. Hougang United skipper Zulfahmi Arifin (centre) blocks Geylang International's Amy Recha during their
Football: Hougang find inspiration in skipper Zulfahmi Arifin
* Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-0 at Stamford Bridge * Keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga was dropped by Chelsea * Gonzalo Higuain struck the post for Chelsea after five minutes
Football: Arrizabalaga dropped as Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-0
Napoli goalkeeper David Ospina remains under observation in hospital but is improving after his frightening collapse following a knock to the head in an Italian league game at the weekend, his
Napoli 'keeper Ospina out of hospital after head injury scare
SAINT-GERMAIN-EN-LAYE, France: Thomas Tuchel on Monday (Apr 29) blasted Neymar for hitting a fan who insulted Paris Saint-Germain players as they filed up to collect their French Cup losers' medals.
PSG coach Tuchel hits out at Neymar after fan attack
Valencia secured Champions League football for the second year in a row by winning 2-0 at Real Valladolid on Saturday, clinching fourth place in La Liga at the expense of Getafe who drew 2-2 at
Valencia clinch Champions League spot, Getafe in Europa
David de Gea has said that Manchester United are not satisfied despite eight straight wins Man United not 'satisfied' despite winning run, says David de Gea. e-mail; 71. Football's coolest
Manchester United not satisfied despite winning run, says
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch premier league stream reddit
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch english premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch premier league matches live streaming
soccer tv live net stream
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch soccer aid live stream
watch premier league live streaming juventus vs manchester united
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch premier league live streaming free
watch live soccer stream android
watch soccer online free streaming live cricfree
watch champions league live streaming vk
watch soccer games live stream free
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch champions league live streaming kenya
watch premier league live streaming vk
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch coppa america live streaming without cable
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming free
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch soccer live stream apk
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch premier league live streaming quality
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch coppa america live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch soccer live streaming mobile
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
soccer tv live football streaming gratuit
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch us soccer live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
#nutmeg #liverpoolfc #visubal #mensnightout #freekickerz #salah #calciatoribrutti #manchestercity #zidane #goodday #ronaldo #freekick #football #mancityvsliverpool #hotcoffee #cristiano #MyDubai #golf #myfootballuniverse #footballdubai #beatifulgame #coutinho #manchestercity #firmino #gym #comico #petercrouch #alissonbecker #oasis #bestshishacafedubai #4Series #Fcb #league2 #bundesliga #kroenkeout #oasisandbeatles #Barcelona #risate #oasisofficial #livestreaming #portsmouthfc #cappucino #oasisengland #meunier #433skills #thebeatles #thomasmeunier #panini #americanfootball #noelgallagher #midnight #uefanationsleague #pagani #Bar #soccermemes #realmadridcf #lfc #liverpoolfans #england #transfernews #valcea #lovefootball #livesports #mane #girlsniteout #insegreto #golazo #vip #manchestercity #hoffenhiem #JUVENTUS #league1
0 Comments