Lionel Messi has previously spoken of his admiration for Virgil van Dijk ahead of Argentina’s World Cup quarter-final clash against the Netherlands.
Messi scored the opener in his side's Round of 16 victory over Australia to continue his fine form at the World Cup – where he has now scored three goals in four appearances – as he spearheaded his nation through to the last eight, where they will face Louis van Gaal's side.
In the group stages, the 35-year-old attacker found the net in Argentina's shock opening-match loss against Saudi Arabia and also netted in a vital victory for Lionel Scaloni's side against Mexico, and while he did not find the net against Poland, he played an important role in his side's two-goal win.
