With Lionel Messi stage left and basking in his World Cup glory, there was cause for regret for Virgil van Dijk under the lights of Salle Pleyel on Monday night. His trip to the Parisian concert hall was about recognition, however, and reward for the sacrifices that have enabled the Liverpool defender to retake his place alongside the elite.
Jürgen Klopp had no hesitation in granting Van Dijk’s request to pop over to Paris for the Best Fifa Awards 2022 despite preparing for Wolves’ visit to Anfield in the Premier League 48 hours later. “It’s great,” the Liverpool manager said of Van Dijk’s place in the Fifa Fifpro men’s team of the year. “It’s fully and absolutely deserved.” The 31-year-old repaid his manager with the crucial opening goal in Liverpool’s 2-0 win on Wednesday.
