The 2019 Ballon d’Or and FIFA best awards have been generating tons of heated contention even with the winner yet to be announced. Football loving fans, TV pundits, coaches, and even the players have all shared their thoughts on who should be award.
This year Ballon d’Or will be the 64th in the history of the prestigious award, which was first given to Sir Stanley Mattews in 1956.
Real Madrid and Spain’s captain, Sergio Ramos is the latest player to share his opinion on who should win the biggest individual honour in football. The trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Virgil Van Dijk are the three finalists for FIFA best awards, and they are also expected to be the main contenders when the Ballon d’Or nominees are announced.
Ronaldo and Messi are no strangers to these awards, with both having won five Ballon d’Or apiece, fortunately this is Van Dijk’s first time in this kind of situation.
However, the Dutch international has already gotten one over his rivals already this year after he was named the UEFA men’s player of the year, and Ramos believes that should also be the case when the FIFA best and Ballon d’Or winner is announced.
Speaking at the launch of his Amazon movie series, the Los Blancos center-back believes Van Dijk should win the award based on what he did for Liverpool last season, helping The KOPS win their sixth European title.
“If Van Dijk wins it, it will be on sufficient merit – great defender,” the 33-year-old told Evening Standard
And also believes Van Dijk winning the prestigious award means there will be more opportunities for others to win it, especially in an era where Ronaldo and Messi have made it difficult for anyone else to win it. “As a defender, it’s harder. It seems as though it’s not just Messi and Cristiano [now]. It seems there’s a route opening [for others].”
‘The fact that the chances are wider now for players other than forwards makes me happy.’
Ramos also commented on the fact no Spanish player has been awarded the prestigious accolade since 1960.
“It makes you think [when you realize] that no Spanish players have won it [recently].
“It’s an individual prize and it’s not really known what is being recognised.”
