'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#1 Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
A defeat in the UEFA Nations League final has done nothing for Virgil van Dijk's Ballon d'Or odds, as the Dutchman has now surpassed Lionel Messi in the race for the coveted trophy with a 5/6 chance of winning the coveted award.
Trending
The Netherlands were handed a 1-0 defeat by Portugal in the Nations League finals held at the Estádio do Dragão on Sunday night. The loss has, however, failed to eclipse the defender's outstanding performances for Liverpool all season.
The former Southampton man has proven himself to be a leader to the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson in the Reds defence, helping them maintain one of the best defensive records in Europe in the recently-concluded campaign.
Van Dijk had a substantial influence in Liverpool's 97-point haul in the Premier League and their Champions League glory against Tottenham Hotspur, thereby finishing his season with a European medal and the PFA Player of the Year award.
Should the Dutchman's form remain the same for the rest of the year, he could just become the first defender to win the Ballon d'Or since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006
