STEVEN GERRARD BELIEVES VAN DIJK DESERVE TO WIN BALLON D’OR

England legend Steven Gerrard says Virgil van Dijk deserves to claim the Ballon d’Or for his “faultless” performances en route to winning the Champions League.

Van Dijk is in the running for football’s top individual prize this year, going up against Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi.

Gerrard, who is now in charge of Scottish giants Rangers, has admitted to being “Messi’s number one fan”, but is in no doubt that Van Dijk should pick up the Ballon d’Or next month.

Speaking after Rangers’ Europa League draw with Feyenoord, Gerrard responded when asked by a Dutch reporter if the Liverpool defender should win: “Yes, 100 per cent.

“I’m Messi’s number one fan, for sure. I love the player. Obscene numbers in his game in terms of assists and goals. I’m definitely a Messi fan, in the gang.

“But if you talk about consistency from one player over a year, who wins the European Cup and is absolutely faultless in every performance, that means you deserve to win the Ballon d’Or.”