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Defender, Liverpool
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Virgil van Dijk (born 8 July 1991) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains both Premier League club Liverpool and the Netherlands national team. He is renowned for his strength, aerial dominance, and calmness under pressure. His £75 million transfer to Liverpool in 2018 transformed the club's defense, leading them to back-to-back Champions League and Premier League titles. In 2019, he finished second in the Ballon d'Or voting, losing narrowly to Lionel Messi—the highest finish for a defender since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006. After recovering from a career-threatening ACL injury in 2020, he returned to elite levels, captaining Liverpool to the League Cup in 2024 (scoring the winner in the final). By 2026, Van Dijk was managing his game time but remained the undisputed leader of Liverpool's post-Klopp era under Arne Slot. He is widely credited with redefining the modern centre-back role.
UEFA Men's Player of the Year (2019) - First defender to win the award
Runner-up for the Ballon d'Or (2019)
PFA Players' Player of the Year (2019)
Controversy in 2023 after being sent off vs Newcastle and refusing to leave the pitch, resulting in an extended ban and fine
Refused to wear the 'OneLove' armband at the 2022 World Cup after FIFA threatened sporting sanctions (yellow cards)
Criticized by Dutch legends Marco van Basten and Ruud Gullit for his leadership style ('He creates chaos')
News articles featuring Virgil van Dijk
Champions League Winner (2019) and Premier League Winner (2020)
Scored the winning goal in the 2024 Carabao Cup Final
Went 50 consecutive Premier League home games without being dribbled past (2018-2019)
Forced his transfer from Southampton to Liverpool in 2017, leading to a complaint of illegal tapping-up