Van Dijk in the interview: "Was Cristiano a rival then?"

After The Best, it could already have been clarified that Cristiano Ronaldo was not going to lift his sixth Ballon d'Or in Paris. With Leo Messi as the main favourite, the Portuguese did not attend the event. He instead attended a Serie A awards ceremony. 

The Ballon d'Or red carpet soon filled with stars. The best players came minutes before the long-awaited gala began. 

Van Dijk, one of the main favourites for the award, did not shy away from a previous interview for 'RTL' in which he spoke of Cristiano Ronaldo and, for many, a surprising absence from the event.

"Cristiano hasn't come, is he a lesser rival?" they questioned him. A question that provoked the sympathetic gesture of the Liverpool defender who, with a slight smile, answered.

"Ah, but that Cristiano had options," slid Van Dijk in a jocular tone. The Dutchman, spicy before the winner of this 2019 Ballon d'Or was announced.

 

December 2, 2019