Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk was named UEFA’s Men’s Player of the Year at the Champions League draw ceremony in Monaco on Thursday, with England star Lucy Bronze picking up the Women’s award.
Dutchman Van Dijk – who also picked up the award for Defender of the Year – pipped Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the top gong after Liverpool’s Champions League success last season, with the Barcelona star being named as the Forward of the Year.
Bronze wasn’t able to attend the ceremony as she is playing for England in Belgium on Thursday evening.
Van Dijk’s Liverpool colleague Alisson Becker won the UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year award, and his Dutch international teammate Frenkie De Jong was named as the Midfielder of the Year.