There is no doubt that Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in the world right now. The imposing Dutchman was runner-up to Lionel Messi at The Best FIFA Men’s Player earlier this year and Ballon d’Or on Monday, and as a result has become used to rubbing shoulders with the world’s greatest at the upper echelons of the game.
Van Dijk has yet to test himself on the global stage for his country though. The Liverpool man made his senior international debut in October 2015, and with the Oranje missing out on the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, he has not graced the biggest stage at international level. For the former Celtic and Southampton defender, the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 not only serves to whet the appetite for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – it also gives him a chance to shine in a global setting for the very first time.
“For me personally, it’s something new,” Van Dijk told FIFA.com in an exclusive interview. “And I think for almost everyone in our team (at Liverpool) it’s something new. I think this squad can be the first Liverpool side to win the Club World Cup. It’ll be a great experience. We’re all looking forward to going out there and hopefully get that trophy as well.”
Jurgen Klopp’s side will open their Qatar 2019 campaign on December 18, and their opponents could be drawn from one of three confederations: AFC (Al Sadd Sports Club), OFC (Hienghene Sport) or Concacaf (Monterrey). The opportunity to face a side from another continent intrigues Van Dijk.
“It will be a big challenge, it will be something that we haven’t experienced before,” he said. “We’re at the stage right now where we have the experience of playing international football with our national teams. We have players who’ve played all over the world anyway. It’s going to be a totally different challenge for us but it’s something that we’re definitely looking forward to.”
The Reds will no doubt watch the opening games with heightened interest – with Al Sadd facing Hienghene Sport on December 11 in the tournament opener, and the winner of that game facing Monterrey on December 14 for a chance to play Liverpool in the semi-final. Whoever they face, an exciting new frontier awaits Van Dijk and his teammates in Qatar.
Van dijk said that seeing four Liverpool players finish in the top 10 in the ranking for this year’s Ballon d’Or can be an extra source of motivation for the Anfield club in their quest for more on-field success this season.
“Obviously the season we had was outstanding. We had even more players than that on the total shortlist so everyone can be proud of the achievement,” said Van dijk after coming second behind Lionel Messi at the awards ceremony in Paris on Monday.
Sadio Mane finished fourth, Mohamed Salah was fifth, and goalkeeper Alisson Becker came seventh in the voting by journalists from around the world for the prize organised by France Football magazine.
Roberto Firmino, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Georginio Wijanldum had also been nominated after starring as Jurgen Klopp’s side won the Champions League last season.
In addition, Alisson won the new Yashin Trophy awarded to the best goalkeeper of the year. “I think we could have even have had a couple more players in it, but we had a fantastic season last year and it should help motivate us to keep doing what we are doing, working even harder and try to achieve even more than we did last year,” added Van dijk.
Liverpool are eight points clear at the top of the Premier League, raising expectations that they will finally go on to win a first league title in three decades. He had been hoping to become the first defender to win the Ballon d’Or since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
“To be absolutely honest I never thought I would be up for a Ballon d’Or until I was actually nominated,” said the former Celtic and Southampton player. “It says a lot about how my career has been. It has never been easy. My career is just different than the winner here. I came late but I never gave up on my dreams. I had to work very hard every step of the way. Where I am right now is just something I am very proud of.”
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