Netherlands national team manager Ronald Koeman believes Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk deserves to win this year's Ballon d'Or, saying his efforts to guide the Reds to the UEFA Champions League title should see him past Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
Koeman believes Messi is the best player in the world, but "big trophies" are a key factor in awarding the honour, per Goal's John Skilbeck:
"He deserves to win the Ballon d'Or.
"It's usually handed to players who make or create decisive goals, but if there ever is a time to give it to a defender, it is now.