Virgil van Dijk’s 2025 Ballon d’Or Ranking Stuns Fans
Liverpool fans were shocked to see where Virgil van Dijk finished in the rankings for the 2025 Ballon d'Or award.
On Monday night, the winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or award will be announced during a ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.
Several of the biggest names in football are expected to be attendance in Paris as they eagerly await the announcement of which of their peers has been voted as the best in the world.
But before the winner of the prestigious award is announced, the Ballon d'Or social media account is slowly revealing how some of the other nominees have placed in this year's rankings.
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And it's safe to say that some fans are already not happy with the rankings, as they took to social media to express their confusion over Liverpool captain Van Dijk's placement.
In the first announcement of men's rankings, the players listed from 30th to 26th were revealed.
Bayern Munich star Michael Olise was named bottom of the Ballon d'Or rankings while Manchester City star Erling Haaland has been ranked in 26th.
However, it is Liverpool captain Van Dijk's ranking of 28th that has surprised people the most, with many criticising the decision to place him behind Arsenal's Declan Rice, who has been ranked 27th.
Reacting to the decision, one fan wrote on X: "Liverpool dominated last season thanks to VVD... Wtf are these rankings?
While another added: "Rice over Van Dijk. This award has no credibility."
And one wrote: "Van dijk 28? behind Rice? Yeah this award has lost its meaning. You lot are a disgrace."
Van Dijk played a key role in Liverpool's success in the 2024/25 season, leading them to the club's first Premier League title under new boss Arne Slot in just his second season as captain.
Florian Wirtz. Liverpool's record-breaking summer signing, placed 29th in the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings, while Alexis Mac Allister finished 22nd.
Mohamed Salah is the final Liverpool player who has been nominated for the award, but his final placement in the rankings is yet to be revealed.
Off the back of a season that saw him take home the PFA Players' Player of the Year having scored and assisted the most goals, Salah is believed to be in with an outside chance of winning the Ballon d'Or on Monday night.
Topics: Ballon d'Or, Virgil Van Dijk, Liverpool, Football, Declan Rice
Ben McCrum