Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has named both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the two most formidable opponents he has encountered in his career.
The Dutchman conceded that it was immensely challenging to play against either of them.
Speaking to GQ, the defender did not hesitate in naming Messi and Ronaldo as the most difficult players he has had to defend against.
Van Dijk stated via TBR Football: “Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Both very, very, very good players.
“Very difficult to defend against. In my opinion, it is always a privilege to play against the best. You can continually challenge yourself, and you must always be at your absolute best — it is a beautiful thing.”
Van Dijk has faced Ronaldo on five occasions, suffering defeat three times.
He has come up against Messi three times in his career, losing twice. His sole victory was a historic one, as Liverpool triumphed 4–0 at Anfield against Barcelona to overturn a 3–0 first-leg deficit and progress 4–3 on aggregate in the UEFA Champions League semi-final of 2019.
Meanwhile, both Messi and Ronaldo are now in the twilight of their illustrious footballing careers.
Messi currently plies his trade at Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, while Ronaldo features for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
