Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk was on Thursday crowned the UEFA Player of the Year.Dijk beat Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Juventus forward Cristiano Ronald to win the coveted award. Djik could not hide his joy after he was crowned the winner of the award, stating that he was proud to be named the player of the year after a tight contest with Messi and Ronaldo."I'm very proud to get this trophy. Its credit to everyone who has helped me," said Van Dijk, as quoted by BBC."I need to thank my team-mates, without them I would not have achieved what I have achieved. It's been a long road and its part of my journey," he added.Djik played a pivotal role in Liverpool's win in the Champions League after edging out Tottenham Hotspurs in a thrilling all-England final.He is considered the most valuable defender at the moment.

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