Is Virgil van Dijk overrated? The answer is yes. Never in the history of the Premier League has a player received so many unmerited plaudits as the Dutch professional. This is a defender who once dismissed Cristiano Ronaldo as a non‑rival, a statement that revealed just how inflated his reputation had become. Like many, I was stunned when van Dijk finished second in the 2019 Ballon d’Or, a moment that symbolized the peak of his hype.
Crowned as the “best defender in the world,” Big Virj is nowhere near deserving of that title. Raphael Varane, Matthijs de Ligt, Leonardo Bonucci, and even Joe Gomez have demonstrated qualities that eclipse him. VvD’s reputation has been built on perception rather than sustained excellence, and the evidence from recent seasons makes that clear.
Liverpool’s 2022/23 Season: A Reality Check
The 2022-23 campaign exposed the fragility of the myth surrounding van Dijk. The Anfield club finished fifth in the Premier League with 67 points from 38 games, winning 19, drawing 10, and losing 9. They scored 75 goals, slightly below their expected tally of 84, and conceded 47, which was better than their expected goals against of 58.5 but still far from the defensive dominance associated with Virgil’s peak years.
The defender’s personal contribution was modest. In the league, he played 30 matches, scored three goals from 22 shots, and registered just one assist. He averaged 81 passes per match with a 90 percent completion rate, but these numbers reflect routine distribution rather than game‑changing influence. In the Champions League, he made eight appearances, failed to score, and offered no assists, with his passing accuracy dropping to 87 percent.
These statistics are respectable but not extraordinary. They do not justify the aura of invincibility that has surrounded the Dutch professional. Goal.com’s assessment of Liverpool’s season rated him five out of ten, describing him as another player who fell short of expectations. He endured a poor start to the campaign and looked more uncertain and vulnerable than at any other point in his Anfield career.
Dispelling the “Never Dribbled Past” Myth
One of the most persistent narratives about van Dijk is the claim that he was “never dribbled past.” Earlier in his Anfield career, he famously went 50 Premier League games without being beaten one‑on‑one, until Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe broke the streak. Before that, Mikel Merino had dribbled past him while van Dijk was still at Southampton.
That record became the cornerstone of his reputation, but it was always misleading. Van Dijk often avoids direct challenges, backing off attackers and leaving his defensive partners to deal with the danger. This tactic makes him appear unbeatable while shifting responsibility onto teammates.
By 2022/23, the myth had collapsed. According to WhoScored, van Dijk was dribbled past 0.3 times per game in the Premier League and 0.4 times per game in the Champions League. In total, he was beaten eight times in the league that season. The image of an immovable wall from the late 2010s has crumbled clearly suggesting that Virgil van Dijk is overrated.
The reality is that van Dijk does get dribbled past, and his reluctance to engage attackers directly often leaves others exposed. Over the past two years, whenever Liverpool conceded, the blame was almost always directed at Dejan Lovren or Joe Gomez and never on van Dijk. His reputation shielded him from criticism, even when his positioning or lack of aggression contributed to defensive lapses.
Reputation vs. Responsibility
This selective protection is part of why van Dijk is overrated. He is praised for calmness and composure, but those qualities often mask a lack of responsibility. A truly great defender dominates his area, imposes himself on attackers, and takes ownership of mistakes. Van Dijk, by contrast, has built a reputation on perception and avoidance.
His aura has created a narrative where he is untouchable, even when his performances fall short. That disconnect between reputation and reality is what makes him overhyped.
Not in the League of the Greats
It is criminal to compare van Dijk to Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, or Sol Campbell. These men delivered domestic doubles, Champions League triumphs, and sustained dominance across multiple seasons. They were leaders who defined eras of defensive excellence.
Van Dijk, even with one of the best attacking lineups in the world, has never matched their achievements. His peak seasons were impressive, but they were short‑lived. Unlike the greats, he has not sustained dominance or carried his team through adversity.
The Ballon d’Or Illusion
Van Dijk’s second‑place finish in the 2019 Ballon d’Or remains the clearest example of his inflated reputation. That year, Liverpool won the Champions League and narrowly missed out on the Premier League title. The player was central to their success, but his individual contribution was exaggerated into a narrative of invincibility.
The Ballon d’Or result elevated him into a category he never truly belonged to. It suggested he was on par with all‑time greats, when in reality he was the beneficiary of a team at its peak and a media narrative desperate for a defensive hero.
Our Perspective
This article is not about bashing Virgil van Dijk rather it is about perspective. His peak seasons were impressive, and he was instrumental in the Reds’ success between 2018 and 2020. But the hype elevated him into a category he never truly belonged to.
So, is Virgil van Dijk overrated? The evidence speaks for itself but what do you think? Join the debate, share your perspective, and let us know whether the Dutchman truly belongs among the Premier League’s greats.
