Lionel Messi has explained why it is so difficult to play against Virgil van Dijk.
In an exclusive interview with Spanish media outlet Marca Argentine international's asked to speak about the strong sides of Liverpool center back and UEFA Player of the season.
Q. Why is it so difficult to beat a player like Virgil van Dijk?
A. He is a defender who knows how to judge his timing and wait for the right moment to challenge or jockey [the attacker]. He is very fast and big, but he has a lot of agility for his height. He is fast because of its great stride, and he is impressive both in defence and attack because he scores lots of goals.
Messi had a historical clash with Van Dijk last season when Barcelona and Liverpool met in Champions League semis.
5-time Ballon d'Or winner outclassed Liverpool at Camp Nou, scoring twice to seal a confident 3-0 victory. The second leg at Anfield, however, was all about the Merseyside club. Jurgen Klopp's team humiliated Barcelona 4-0 to produce one of the most sensational comebacks in the history of football.
Van Dijk and Messi are the favourites for Ballon d'Or. In terms of individual awards, the score is 1-1, as Messi's been voted FIFA Best player of the year.
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