LONDON • An unstoppable force will meet an unmovable object as Lionel Messi comes up against Virgil van Dijk tomorrow, with Liverpool travelling to Barcelona for the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
But, while the Netherlands skipper is relishing putting the shackles on the Argentina talisman, the Ballon d'Or award is not a match-up he intends to win.
Speaking after being crowned the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Player of the Year by his peers on Sunday, van Dijk said: "(World Player of the Year) is not something that's on my mind at all.
"There are currently players walking around in this football world that are out of this world (Messi is a five-time Ballon d'Or winner) and they've been doing it for many years.
"I'm very happy how I perform at the moment, how consistent I'm performing, that I'm fit as well. I just need to not look too far ahead."
He is the fourth Dutchman to win English football's most prestigious individual prize and the first defender since Chelsea captain John Terry in 2005.
Van Dijk's compatriot Vivianne Miedema was named Women's Player of the Year after scoring 22 times to lead Arsenal Women to their first title since 2012.
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Virgil van Dijk is the first defender since Chelsea's John Terry in 2005 to win the award.
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No opposition player has dribbled past the Dutch defender in any of his 36 league appearances this season.
Besides facing Barcelona, Liverpool are aiming to overtake Manchester City's one-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Van Dijk, 27, said: "Right now, we're in a tight title race, (also) in the Champions League semi-finals against a fantastic team, where probably the best players are playing, so we just take it game by game.
"For us, now it's time to focus on Barcelona midweek and then we have a big game at Newcastle away (on Saturday) as well."
However, he admitted the accolade was "special" and said: "I'm very proud and honoured to receive it. If you see the standard of strikers or playmakers we have in the league, it's unbelievable."
Reds manager Jurgen Klopp was equally thrilled for van Dijk, who joined in January last year, jokingly referencing his £75 million (S$132 million) transfer fee as "a very, very small price". He said: "I'm really proud it's the second time in a row (Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was last year's winner).
"From the first moment (of signing), I was so excited about the opportunity to work together and now you are the man - at least for this season!"
Pundits also hailed van Dijk as a worthy winner, with former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer calling him "immense", while ex-Reds midfielder Danny Murphy talked up his "tremendous blend of athleticism and powers of recovery".
Manchester City's Raheem Sterling, 24, won the PFA Young Player of the Year award and yesterday was named Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, DPA
Former Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte is the new Inter Milan manager.. Following heavy speculation, it was announced on Friday that the Italian tactician has officially replaced Luciano Spalletti in the dugout as the Nerazzurri look to challenge Juventus for the Serie A title next season.
(Adds quotes) By Richard Martin. BARCELONA, May 4 (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid fell to their heaviest league defeat of the season as they were crushed 3-0 by Espanyol on Saturday, missing the chance to mathematically guarantee they finish second in La Liga ahead of neighbors Real Madrid.
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FRANKFURT (REUTERS) - Chelsea set a Europa League record of 16 successive matches unbeaten on Thursday (May 2) with 1-1 semi-final first leg draw at Eintracht Frankfurt thanks to a Pedro equaliser
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READ: Van de Beek gives Ajax 1-0 lead vs Tottenham in CL semifinal; TOO GOOD. Ajax have already proved too good for Real Madrid and Juventus in the competition this season and were streets ahead of Spurs in the first half on a perfect night for football.
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Call me if you need anything: the situation isn't comfortable, bad drugs (not weed, but didn't smoke), a ride, whatever. I was a very difficult teen but we had our trust. Reply to A
Atletico Madrid fell to their first La Liga defeat in five months as they were beaten 1-0 at Real Betis on Sunday, missing a golden chance to close the gap with leaders Barcelona and slipping six
Atletico title bid suffers with defeat at Betis in Morata debut
adtest.supersport.com/football/spain/news/190203/Atletico_title_bid_suffers_with_defeat_at_Betis_in_Morata_debut
Alvaro Morata's debut ended in disappointment as Atletico Madrid missed a golden chance to cut the gap behind Barcelona by losing 1-0 to Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday. Morata made his first start for Atletico at Benito Villamarin but it was an unspectacular opener for the on-loan Chelsea striker, and a big opportunity squandered for his team.
Atletico title bid suffers with defeat at Betis in Morata debut
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Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi will undergo surgery after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon. The 18-year-old winger is set to miss the rest of the season after being taken off in the 41st minute
Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi says his season is over - Sportstar
Premier League leaders Manchester City recovered from two goals down to beat Championship side Swansea City 3-2 at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday to progress to the FA Cup semi-finals.Having secured a last-eight spot in the Champions League to go with their League Cup title, City
Soccer-Man City come from two goals down to reach FA Cup last
However, in a statement published on their official website, the Premier League did not shy away from condemning such changes. They wrote: " The Premier League and our clubs today unanimously reaffirmed our strong opposition to the proposed reform of UEFA club competitions from 2024, which would alter the structure, calendar and competitiveness of league football.
EPL clubs opposed to European changes - theworldnews.net
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola predicts his side will "suffer" against fourth-tier Newport County in their FA Cup fifth round match on Saturday but has urged his players to adapt to a battered playing surface at Rodney Parade.
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Sadio Mane scored twice to hand Liverpool a 3-1 victory at Bayern Munich on Wednesday that sent them through to the Champions League quarter-finals. ease past Bayern 3-1 to reach last eight. 2
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