Lionel Messi snubbed Virgil van Dijk when naming best defender in Premier League
Lionel Messi snubbed Virgil van Dijk when naming the best defender in the Premier League.
Messi has never played in the Premier League but has come up against the best defenders England's top flight has to offer in the Champions League or on the international stage.
He has had some intense battles with Van Dijk in the Champions League and the World Cup.
Messi duelled with Van Dijk in a memorable Champions League tie in the 2018/19 season, where Liverpool came from three-goals down to beat Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate.
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But he got the better of Van Dijk at the 2022 World Cup when Argentina knocked out the Netherlands on penalties in the quarter-finals.
Despite his on-field battles with Van Dijk, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner named another defender as the best in the world.
Messi opted for countryman Cristian Romero and hailed him following Argentina's World Cup 2026 qualification win over Ecuador in 2023.
"For me, he (Romero) is the best defender in the world right now," he said. "Amazing performance tonight, man of the match."
Romero has earned 42 caps for Argentina since making his international debut in 2021.
He helped his national team to World Cup glory in Qatar, securing Messi's first World Cup title in the process.
Romero has made a name for himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League following his stellar performances for Spurs.
He joined the North London outfit from Atalanta on an initial loan deal before the transfer was made permanent.
The 27-year-old defender has made 124 appearances across all competitions and shone in his team's Europa League final against Manchester United on Wednesday.
He kept a clean sheet as Spurs beat Man United 1-0 to win their first major trophy in 17 years.
Romero was named Man of the Match for his defensive showing.
Topics: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Barcelona, Virgil Van Dijk, Football
Nasir Jabbar