The Best FIFA Men’s Player 2019: 3 reasons why Virgil van Dijk deserves the award over Messi and Ronaldo

#1 The precedent set last year favours van Dijk

Van Dijk could follow Luka Modric's footsteps in winning the Best FIFA Men’s Player

There was a lot of talk when Luka Modric beat Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Best FIFA Men’s Player last year. It was a bit weird, but it wasn’t surprising- weird because the world has grown accustomed to seeing either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo win the award, and not surprising because for the first time in a long while, another player actually put himself in line to win the Ballon d’Or.

Last year’s occurrence only goes to prove that van Dijk can also win it. If Modric could beat Ronaldo and Messi to it, then the Dutchman can also repeat the feat.

The precedent doesn’t make it a given, but the Liverpool star has earned it, just like Modric. With both superstars having dominated every individual award over the last decade, it is only fair to award it to any third player who stands up to the duo. So far, van Dijk has stood up to Messi and Ronaldo, and therefore deserves this year’s Best FIFA Men’s Player.