That’s according to Van Dijk’s international manager Ronald Koeman.
The centre-back joined up with Koeman’s Netherlands squad on Monday ahead of their UEFA Nations League semi-final with England in Portugal this Thursday (8pm).
Dutch captain Van Dijk and Liverpool team-mate Gini Wijnaldum only helped the Reds to Champions League glory on Saturday, when they helped secure a 2-0 defeat of Tottenham in the Spanish capital of Madrid.
That helped crowned a memorable campaign for Jurgen Klopp’s men in which they only narrowly missed out on the Premier League title but secured their first piece of silverware in seven years and their sixth European Cup in the process.
After the game, UEFA Man of the Match Van Dijk was quizzed about his prospects of claiming the game’s most prestigious individual award – the Ballon d’Or.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the accolade and took it in turns to be crowned No 1 for 10 straight years until Luka Modric ended their duopoly in 2018.
But Messi is scored as the favourite to win the award this year for his phenomenal exploits for Barcelona, although they were knocked out of the Champions League by winners Liverpool in the semi-finals – having led 3-0 from the first leg – and lost the Copa del Rey final to Valencia two weeks later.
Van Dijk said: “I think Messi is the best player in the world and I think he deserves it as long as he plays.
“The Ballon d’Or is not something I am thinking of, but if it happens by any chance then obviously I will take it.
“But I don’t think there is any case and I think that Messi is still the best player in the world and it doesn’t matter if he isn’t in the Champions League final.”
But despite the defender’s verdict, Netherlands boss Koeman – who also managed Van Dijk at Southampton – thinks it is actually the Liverpool man who deserves the award.
Van Dijk was named the Premier League and PFA Players’ Player of the Year for his performances in England’s top flight as Liverpool kept 21 clean sheets, becoming the first defender to win the latter gong since John Terry in 2004-05, while he was just as impressive in Europe.
Overall, he helped the Reds to keep 27 clean sheets in the Premier League and the Champions League and only missed one match across both competitions, due to suspension.
The 27-year-old – arguably the best central defender in world football – has not been dribbled past once by an opponent this season or in any of his last 64 matches at club level.
And Koeman thinks he should beat five-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi for his achievements.
“He deserves the Ballon d’Or,” Koeman declared in an interview on Oranje’s official YouTube account.
“Everyone is often focused on players who score or create goals, or produce decisive goals.
“If there is ever a moment to give the Ballon d’Or to a defender, it is now.
“Messi is the best player but I also think you should win big trophies such as the Champions League to be in the picture for the Ballon d’Or.”