With reports suggesting FC Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi will be crowned the winner of the 2019 Ballon d'Or on Monday night, Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, whom many believe should win the award, has reacted to the rumours.
Click through the mini-gallery above to see the apparent top five for the 2019 Ballon d'Or ranking, as was reportedly leaked last week.
The Dutch defender has been immense for both club and country this year, leading many to believe he should be awarded the prestigious individual prize in Paris on Monday night.
A list of final rankings for the accolade has, however, reportedly been leaked and is doing the rounds on social media, and on it, Van Dijk is in second place behind Messi.
?There is a 'leaked Ballon d'Or rankings' list leaked by an anonymous source earlier on Twitter today, in which Messi wins the award. pic.twitter.com/Uifzhxa5ov
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) November 30, 2019
Asked how he feels about the rumours suggesting the Argentine will be announced as the winner, the 28-year-old insisted he is proud to be in such elite company.
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"There are no losers on that evening," Van Dijk said, according to International Business Times.
"I am very proud to be in that bracket, be in there for the way I performed with the team last year and also with the country.
"It is just something to be proud of because not a lot of players go there and are up for these kinds of things.
"There are no losers that evening – we'll see what happens."
2019 Ballon d'Or Winner Leaked?
Van Dijk scored twice in Liverpool's 2-1 home win over Brighton Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday, but has managed just a single clean sheet in this campaign so far.
Do you think Van Dijk deserves the accolade over Messi? Let us know in the comments section below.
