Build-up to Wednesday night’s UEFA Super Cup final for Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk was dominated by Ballon d’Or talk.

The 28-year-old was in imperious form throughout the Reds’ run to the 2018/19 Champions League, plus then lifted the inaugural Nations League with the Netherlands.

Victory against Europa League holders Chelsea in Istanbul, the city where Liverpool miraculously won the 2004/05 CL, will add further weight to his candidacy for football’s grandest individual honour.

See his response when quizzed about this above: