Sport
Van Dijk Says It’s a Privilege to Play Against Messi and Ronaldo
Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk has revealed that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the toughest opponents he’s ever faced on the pitch.
The Dutch defender admitted it’s no easy task coming up against either of the two footballing icons. In a chat with GQ, Van Dijk didn’t hold back as he named the duo as the most challenging players he has had to deal with throughout his career.
“Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo,” he said. “They’re both exceptional. Defending against them is incredibly tough. But for me, it’s an honour to play against the very best. It pushes you to your limits and keeps you sharp. That’s the beauty of it.”
Van Dijk has locked horns with Ronaldo five times, winning twice and losing three. He’s faced Messi three times, with two defeats and one unforgettable win—Liverpool’s 4–0 comeback at Anfield in 2019 that knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League.
Now nearing the end of their legendary careers, Messi is with Inter Miami in the MLS, while Ronaldo stars for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Despite being rivals on the field, both remain benchmarks for greatness—and Van Dijk knows it firsthand.
Coventry City manager, Frank Lampard, speaks on team player and states how the player’s stance will help the team get into the Premier League.
The player is revealed to be Onyeka who he spoke about in the recent interview.
“He brings a different quality and probably a different profile to the midfield players we have.
“As I say, the profile is slightly different and I think that helps us in terms of the options and the competition in the middle of the park for us.”
Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta, after their last match, shares an update on the injured team members after their last match.
He shared an update on Saka and stated that he is doing better after going through a hip injury. “His hip is improving a lot. Hopefully, he’ll be ready soon.”
He added about the other team members: “Martin is getting better and will be back in a few days, and Jurrien is fit for the weekend.”
Super Eagles footballer, Alex Iwobi, speaks on the World Cup and reveals their hope to play in the 2026 World Cup.
He shared that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is hopeful about hearing from them after they submitted a petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“I mean we’re still waiting, well hopefully we can go to the World Cup, but I feel it’s a tough one.
“It’s a tough one because winning AFCON is like… It’s a great legacy, it’s a great thing to have in your career, a memorable moment. But then at the same time, because I’ve been to the World Cup already, a lot of the players haven’t been.”
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