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.
Ghanaian Referee, Daniel Laryea, who officiated the Nigeria vs Morocco game in AFCON gets interviews and shared his experience.
The referee reveals how it was his first time in a semi final and was kind of nervous. “I’ve been to three AFCON tournaments, but this is the first time I’ve been in a semi-final.”
“So when coaches choose you for that game, they know your skills and what you can do. But of course, you feel a little nervous because of the level of the match.”
Nigerian Footballer, Bright Osayi-Samuel , react to match as Super Eagles lose to Morocco.
The player calls out CAF for their referee appointment. He shares how the Ghanaian Referee was tough on the field and made bad choices.
“One thing I would say is that the referee was really bad. I’m not saying that was the reason we lost. He is making really bad choices and it’s really tough to watch because we have referees like this in big games like today.
He then praises Morocco for a good game “But Morocco did really well.”
Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle speaks and shared why Nigeria lost the AFCON match to Morocco.
It can be noted that the match was held on the 14th of January, 2026. Nigeria lost the match with a draft in the penalties, 4-2.
During a recent interview, Chelle shared his observations about the match and shared why they lost.
“From a technical point of view, the Super Eagles weren’t at the same level as we displayed in our other matches.”
“I don’t want to say the reason was fatigue, but the truth is that we lacked movement and power.”
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