Ballon D’Or 2019: Van Dijk talked on the winning award ahead of Messi, Ronaldo

Liverpool defender, Virgil van Dijk, admits it would be “special” to win the Ballon d’Or this year.

Van Dijk has been the installed as the favourite to win the prestigious prize, ahead of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Speaking to Liverpool’s matchday programme, the Dutchman said: “Can I win? There is going to be an answer to that on December 2!

“For me to be called in the same breath, for last season’s performances, to win the Ballon d’Or is something special. We’ll see what is going to come out of it.

“[I need to] keep playing, week in, week out, at the highest level I can play at. I try to keep improving myself in training with the experience I gain from every game, and I just stay fit as well.

“That’s a massive part of playing at a consistent level – staying fit and hopefully playing all the big games.”