‘The Dutchman’s game’s was worth framing and putting in the Anfield tunnel’: Spanish media hail ‘His Majesty’ Virgil van Dijk and back the Liverpool defender to win Ballon d’Or
- The Spanish press have hailed Virgil van Dijk and tipped him for the Ballon d’Or
- Van Dijk was at his imperious best as Liverpool beat Tottenham on Saturday
- Marca called the Dutchman ‘His Majesty’ and praised him as a ‘force of nature’
- They also praised Mo Salah for bouncing back from his final heartbreak in 2018
Is it crazy to suggest the next Ballon d’Or winner could be a defender? That was the question the Spanish sports paper Diario AS asked after the Champions League final.
‘All bets will be on Messi, but Salah, Mane and Van Dijk should all be candidates and the defender has been the best player in the Premier League, won the Champions League and still has the Nations League final four to come,’ said the paper’s editorial.
Marca echoed the praise, making the player they referred to as ‘His Majesty’ their man of the match.
The Spanish press hailed Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk after the Champions League final
Marca called the Dutchman ‘His Majesty’ after his display and praised him as a ‘force of nature’
‘He got to everything, via land, air or sea. A force of nature,’ they said.
‘The Dutchman’s game’s was worth framing and putting in the Anfield tunnel. He read danger well, was majestic in the air and good on the ball. Tottenham found themselves up against a giant.’
Praise for van Dijk aside, it was the Mo Salah story that captured the imagination of Madrid.
‘It was 371 days after his shoulder injury meant his final ended in tears. And he took just 147 seconds to find the back of the net.
‘Only Paolo Maldini in 2005 and Enrique Mateos in 1959 had scored quicker goals in a European Cup final,’ noted Marca.
Van Dijk was at his imperious best for Liverpool as they beat Tottenham on Saturday in Madrid