Rio Ferdinand has revealed why Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk did not deserve to beat Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Champions League Player of the Season award.

The 28-year-old Netherland international was ​named the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year off the back of Reds’ run to Champions League glory after an astonishing semi-final comeback win over Barcelona, before he gave a man-of-the-match display, shutting out Harry Kane in the final against Premier League rivals Tottenham and is one of the leading candidates for the Ballon d’Or this year.Messi helped Barcelona to retain La Liga and the Argentina skipper also scored 12 goals during a prolific Champions League campaign, while Ronaldo’s European season ended in disappointment with a shock quarter-final exit against Ajax and Portugal superstar played a key role in securing a domestic double for Juventus in what was his first year in Italy and UEFA Nations League.Ferdinand told BT Sport. “There’s no doubt Virgil van Dijk is the best defender on the planet right now,’ 

“But listen, when a man scores 50 goals in a season as Messi did, or Cristiano winning trophies like he did and the effect he’s had in a new championship and at the national level – you can’t look beyond that “People saying it’s a bit boring those two winnings it every year, but they are putting up numbers we haven’t seen before for 12 to 15 years. You can’t look beyond that. “I’m a centre-half and I’m delighted he’s won it but when you’ve got someone scoring 50 goals a season you can’t do that. They’re the best. Messi and Ronaldo have been penalised for the standards they’ve set it’s become boring for some people.’Van Dijk becomes the first Liverpool player to win the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award after club legend Steven Gerrard in 2005 after the Reds coming behind to beat AC Milan on penalties.

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