Rio Ferdinand doesn't believe Virgil van Dijk should've won the UEFA Player of the Year award this week.
The BT Sport pundit and former Manchester United defender thinks Liverpool's Dutch centre-back is not yet on Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo's level.
Van Dijk was instrumental in Liverpool's Champions League victory last season and beat second-placed Messi by almost 100 points in the vote in Monaco this week.
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But Ferdinand said on BT Sport: "There is no doubt in my mind that Virgil van Dijk is the best defender on the planet today.
"But when a man scores 50 goals in a season like Messi did, or Cristiano won three trophies this season, the effect he's had on a new championship and at national level as well, you can't look beyond that.
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"People say, 'ah it's a bit boring that those two are still winning' but they're putting up numbers that have never been seen before, for 12, 15 years.
"I'm a centre half and I'm delighted that he's won it, I think he's a worthy winner, but when you've got a man scoring 50 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 is also favourite to win the Ballon d'Or award later this year having scooped the PFA Player of the Year gong last season.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Lionel Messi, Virgil Van Dijk, Rio Ferdinand, Cristiano Ronaldo