Van Dijk does not consider Messi and Ronaldo as the toughest opponents

Not two legends Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, center back Virgil van Dijk considers striker Olivier Giroud as his most formidable opponent.

"I think Giroud is the most dangerous striker I've ever faced," Van Dijk told France Football in January 2024. "Every time you think you've blocked him, you're marking him, but he still scores in one way or another, with his head, with his feet, with his knees. Giroud often scores against my team."

Giroud (No. 9) and Van Dijk (No. 4) compete in the Netherlands - France match in October 2023. Photo: Iconsport

In fact, despite being highly rated by Van Dijk, Giroud has only scored two goals in matches against the Dutch centre-back. The first goal was scored in Chelsea's 3-5 loss to Liverpool in the 2019-2020 Premier League season. At that time, Willian's close-range shot failed to beat Alisson Becker and the French striker's rebound into an empty net.

Giroud's second goal came in France's 2-1 win over the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League in September 2018. In this match, from a cross from the left wing, Giroud cut in and crossed the ball past Van Dijk, sealing the victory for France.

Giroud has played for Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premier League and is currently playing for AC Milan. This season, at the age of 37, Giroud is still Milan's main striker with ten goals in all competitions, including nine in Serie A and one in the Champions League.

In the same interview with France Football , Van Dijk also listed Sergio Aguero, Erling Haaland of Man City and Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal as other difficult strikers. "They all make your game very difficult," said the 32-year-old centre-back.

Van Dijk at Liverpool training ground on January 17. Photo: liverpoolfc.com

However, Van Dijk did not mention Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Kylian Mbappe - three other notorious strikers. Van Dijk's Netherlands also faced Messi's Argentina in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. Here, Messi contributed a goal, an assist and successfully kicked the 11m kick to help Argentina win 4-3 in the penalty shootout.

Van Dijk played for the Netherlands against Ronaldo in the 2019 Nations League final, where Portugal won thanks to Goncalo Guedes' only goal.

The Dutch centre-back also lost to Mbappe's France in both Euro 2024 qualifiers, 0-4 at the Stade de France and 1-2 at home at the Amsterdam Arena. Mbappe scored twice in both victories.

Thanh Quy (according to Goal )

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