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Players at the back face an uphill fight to win prizes even before a ball has been kicked, according to the last defender to win the coveted prize.
Fabio Cannavaro has sympathized with Virgil van Dijk after the Liverpool star narrowly missed winning the Ballon d’Or award last year.
Barcelona striker Lionel Messi reached the top by just seven points in the vote to claim the most prestigious individual honor in football for the sixth time.
A defender has not won the award since Cannavaro did so in 2006 in the wake of Italy’s World Cup victory.
Cannavaro felt that Van Dijk was extremely unfortunate in failing to succeed after the huge impact he had on Liverpool’s baseline on his way to Champions League glory in 2019.
He believes defenders start at a disadvantage compared to attack stars like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I texted Van Dijk to congratulate him on last season but as a defender it is difficult to win,” Cannavaro told Sky Sports.
“You don’t just need to have great performance and win trophies.”
“You must be lucky not to have a striker like Ronaldo and Messi in front of you. This is the key. If you have Messi or Ronaldo, you start the game 1-0.”
Liverpool had three of the top five players in last year’s Ballon d’Or vote, and Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah also did well.
“Liverpool had an incredible season and they deserve to win and celebrate this league,” Cannavaro added, referring to the Reds’ position at the top of the Premier League.
“But we are in this [coronavirus] situation and it’s a shame for them.
“I have a lot of respect for Salah. He has changed a lot in Liverpool. For the past three years, he has been like a machine.”
“He is the player that all coaches would like to train because he can defend himself and attack and leaves everything on the field, he never gives up.”
IT’S VIRGIL VAN DIJK!
A massive moment, as our number gave us the lead in Munich … pic.twitter.com/aYJl2pdH3o
– Liverpool FC (at) (@LFC) March 16, 2019
Cannavaro, who is in charge of Guangzhou Evergrande, hopes to make it to the Premier League one day.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola are among those who impress him.
“I watch all the Premier League games and I like the atmosphere and culture of football in England,” he said.
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“I am in China to try to improve my system and idea within football. I am in one of the best Asian clubs and of course in the future I would like to try an experience in Europe.”
“I like the Klopp mentality, but at the same time, I like the Pep culture about football because we always need intensity with and without the ball.”
“But you need to control the game and try to win. I have my system and I hope that one day you will see it.”
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