When Virgil van Dijk arrived at Liverpool in January 2018, the fee raised eyebrows across European football. The pursuit had been persistent and the price tag seen as excessive. Now, with the Dutchman transforming the Anfield defence beyond recognition, that deal is widely regarded as the best bit of business the club has done in years. With the front three usually grabbing the headlines, the commanding Dutchman can sometimes go under the radar. Following another dominant display against Bayern Munich, the question must be asked, is he the best centre back in the world right now?
A Defender Who Could Win the Ballon D’or
Since the inception of the Ballon D’or only three defenders have ever won the award. Franz Beckenbauer, Matthias Sammer and Fabio Cannavaro all claimed football’s most prestigious individual honour whilst playing at the heart of the defence. With the era of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi dominance showing signs of coming to an end, there is a genuine argument that the Anfield centre half could become the fourth defender to lift the award.
The impact Virgil van Dijk has made at Liverpool since his arrival has been extraordinary. He has guided the Reds to a Champions League final and transformed them into genuine Premier League title challengers. The defence, once a source of anxiety for supporters, is now one of the most solid backlines in European football. For a player who could genuinely claim to be the best centre back in the world, the recognition has been surprisingly modest..
Putting Holland Back on the Map
His influence has also extended far beyond Merseyside. Despite the Netherlands missing out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the Dutch have since qualified for the finals of the Nations League, defeating both France and Germany in the process. The commanding centre half contributed directly, scoring twice across the four qualifying games. He has single-handedly revived belief in Dutch football at international level.
Everything You Want in a Defender
The former Southampton man is a complete package. Quick enough to deal with pace, strong enough to dominate aerial duels, comfortable enough on the ball to initiate attacks and positionally astute enough to read danger before it develops. Manager Jurgen Klopp quite literally cannot drop him, he is the glue that holds the entire defensive structure together.
VvD has made 37 appearances for the club this season, rested only for the EFL Cup and FA Cup, two competitions the Reds unsurprisingly exited. The numbers back up the eye test. He wins 4.7 headers per game on average, completes 89.6 percent of his passes and registers 5.4 clearances per game. These are not the statistics of a good defender. They are the statistics of someone who has a strong claim to being the best centre back in the world operating at the peak of his powers.
The Case for Van Dijk
What truly separates the Dutchman from his rivals is his influence on those around him. He does not let his head drop when things are going wrong and he is always searching for that extra yard to win a challenge. His composure under pressure filters through the entire defensive unit, when he is calm, Liverpool are calm.
It is difficult to think of a defender at the heart of a back four who comes close at this moment. Sergio Ramos could be the only credible argument. But even the Real Madrid captain does not offer the same combination of physical dominance, technical quality and leadership that the Dutch international brings to the conversation around the best centre back in the world.
This man is in the prime years of his career. If the Reds do not win a major trophy this season, expect every elite club in Europe to come calling for the former Celtic man, because what he is producing at Anfield right now is nothing short of immense.
