Lucy Bronze of Lyon and Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool are named UEFA Players of the Year.

Dutchman Van Dijk was instrumental in Liverpool’s 2-0 Champions League final victory over Tottenham in Madrid last season, which gave them their sixth European Cup.

Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk won the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award, edging out Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

On Thursday, Liverpool center back Virgil van Dijk defeated Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to win the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year title. Lucy Bronze won the women’s category.

Dutchman Van Dijk was instrumental in Liverpool’s 2-0 Champions League final victory over Tottenham in Madrid last season, which gave them their sixth European Cup.

I owe my teammates a debt of gratitude because without them, I could not have accomplished what I have. This is a portion of my trip, and it’s been a long road. Receiving this trophy fills me with pride. Van Dijk told BT Sport, “I have to give credit to everyone who has helped me.”

The 28-year-old is the first defender to take home the honor since it was originally given out in 2010–11.

After moving from Southampton to Liverpool in January 2018 for a then-record £75 million ($91.4 million) in defender salary, he helped the Reds swiftly go to the Champions League final of that season, where they were defeated by Real Madrid.

However, Van Dijk was a crucial player as Liverpool won their first major title since 2012 and established a club record for points in the Premier League, coming in second place, one point behind Manchester City.

“I shot to the top and wasn’t even eighteen.” Van Dijk continued, “I had to work every step of the way. I was on the Netherlands team that lost to Ronaldo’s Portugal in the first Nations League final.

Between them, Messi and Ronaldo had won five of the previous eight titles. The other winners were Andres Iniesta (2012), Franck Ribery (2013), and Luka Modric (2018).

complete back Bronze and Lyon won the Women’s Champions League championship, and then Bronze assisted England in making it to the World Cup semifinals.

The 27-year-old Bronze is the first player from England to win both UEFA Player of the Year awards.