Liverpool could end up with a good few players in the running for the Ballon d’Or award. One star’s campaign is well under way, though.

Back in 2018, Virgil van Dijk finished second in the Ballon d’Or voting. The Dutchman had enjoyed a truly remarkable year with Liverpool, transforming them from a top-four team into Champions League finalists within a few months.

Then came a brilliant start to the 2018/19 season. Everyone saw the impact Van Dijk had on Liverpool – it was one of the most transformative effects you’ll ever see from just one player.

And that’s why he came second to Lionel Messi. Only, Van Dijk didn’t just come second – he lost by seven votes. That’s the tightest difference between first and second there’s ever been.

If Liverpool had won the Champions League final, or if Messi had been just a tiny bit slower with his goal return, Van Dijk would have won the Ballon d’Or that year. There’s little doubt that such a year would have won it this time around – the Liverpool star was one of the unfortunate ones to compete with Messi.

But perhaps things can be fixed this time.