If you go around asking people who the best centre back in the world is, the overwhelming majority should be saying Virgil van Dijk. The Duch defender was the calming presence at the back in Liverpool’s march to the Champions League, and although they weren’t able to add the Premier League title, he did claim the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.
The centre back’s overall rating for FIFA 20 is likely to improve, but could Van Dijk be the best player on the game? With other players rumoured to be suffering rating decreases, we look at how VVD could become the highest-rated player this year.
A Season to remember
Last year, fans questioned Liverpool’s record-breaking £75 million transfer fee for the acquisition of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton. Over the past 18 months, Van Dijk has propelled himself into contention for the Ballon d’Or, and is above Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the favourites to win the ultimate individual prize in football.
Liverpool finished on a franchised record-breaking point total with 97 points. Although they did not achieve domestic success this season, they were crowned champions of Europe by defeating top six rival Spurs in the UEFA Champions League Final.
The Reds kept the best defensive record thanks to the Dutchman. If you compare the scousers’ defensive record from the season before you can see the impact Van Dijk has made towards their success this season.
Nobody has dribbled past VVD this season, attempting 50 tackles and winning every single one. We have not seen a season like this from a centre half since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006, when the Italian captain his country to the World Cup. We have definitely never seen such a monumental season from a centre back in Premier League history.
READ MORE: FIFA 20 Liverpool player rating predictions
The Competition
The ongoing debate on who is the best player in the world for the last decade has always been between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but let’s dissect this in terms of FIFA 20 rating predictions.
Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest player. Ever. The 32-year-old Argentinian has been announced as the cover star for PES 2020. This would make it unlikely that EA will rate him higher than any other player. Let us not forget, Van Dijk’s Liverpool beat Messi’s Barcelona to give them a place in the Champions League final.
Cristiano Ronaldo only bagged enough goals this season to finish as the third top goal scorer in the Serie A. Ajax also beat his side in the quarter-finals of the Champions league and only achieved silverware domestically. The Portuguese superstar is 34 years of age and in the back end of his career. The conversation is already starting on Cristiano’s FIFA 20 potential downgrade.
READ MORE: FIFA 20 Arsenal ratings predictions
The Final Verdict
Will this be Virgil’s card on FIFA 20?
At the prime age of 27, VVD dominated at the back of the improved Liverpool defence. He is still emptying his back pocket of strikers from last season. With the Dutch international likely to maintain the highest level, we believe Van Dijk has ticked all the boxes to become the greatest player on FIFA 20.
READ MORE: Why Cristiano Ronaldo is set for a serious downgrade on FIFA 20
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