Liverpool center-back Virgil van Dijk has lauded Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi as one of the “best” players in the history of world football.
The veteran Dutch defender is set to once again square off against Messi, as the Netherlands will meet the Argentina national team in the World Cup quarterfinal round on Friday. The two stars do have history with each other, including their meeting in the UEFA Champions League semifinal round three years ago.
For van Dijk, he is much looking forward to facing Messi in a crucial knockout stage match of the sport’s biggest tournament, although he is well aware that the Netherlands will not only have to keep a close watch on the PSG star.
“He is one of the best players of all-time,” van Dijk told De Telegraaf (via VoetbalPrimeur).
“It is an honor to play against him. But it is not me against him, or the Netherlands against him, but the Netherlands against Argentina. And they have many more players who are world-class.”
Argentina and the Netherlands last met eight years ago in the semifinal round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
