Van Dijk bags UEFA men’s player award; Bronze wins women’s title

Liverpool and Netherlands defender, Virgil van Dijk was crowned the UEFA men’s player of the year after impressive performances for club and country.

The Dutch star beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the award in Monaco on Thursday.

Van Dijk signed for Liverpool in January 2018, and was instrumental in the club’s journey to winning last season’s Champions League and nearly beating Manchester City to the Premier League title.

He becomes the first defender to win the Uefa award, and also the first Premier League player to win it.

“I need to thank my teammates, without them I would not have achieved what I have achieved. It’s been a long road and it’s part of my journey. I’m very proud to get this trophy. It’s credit to everyone who has helped me,” he said.

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Meanwhile, Liverpool goalkeeper, Allison Becker was awarded the goalkeeper of the season, Messi the forward of the season, Frank de Jong the midfielder of the season, and Van Dijk the defender of the season.

In the women’s category of the awards, England’s Lucy Bronze, who helped the Lionesses reach the semifinals at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, won the award for Uefa Women’s Player of the Year.

A player at French club Lyon since 2017, Bronze was England’s star performer at the World Cup, where she won the Silver Ball as the tournament’s second-best player.

She also won the Champions League with Lyon.

Defender Bronze defeated Lyon team-mates Ada Hegerberg and Amandine Henry to the award.

She is also the first English winner of the Uefa honour.

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