Brazil legend Kaka has named Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk as a surprise contender for the Ballon d’Or award for this year. He believes the defender deserves recognition, which should not be limited to attackers like Mohamed Salah, Raphinha and Kylian Mbappe.
Speaking to SPORTbible, Kaka stated that he did not have a clear favorite for the Ballon d’Or this year. He thought the UEFA Champions League final would play a key role and said:
Salah, Raphinha and Yamal are reported to be the top contenders for the Ballon d’Or this year. Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe are also said to be in the running for the France Football award.
World Cup-winning captain and Brazil legend, Cafu spoke to the media earlier this year and claimed that Raphinha was the clear front-runner for the Ballon d’Or. He said the Barcelona star had had a better season than Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah. Cafu said (via GOAL):
Raphinha was a key part of the Barcelona squad that won the Copa del Rey and LaLiga this season. Mohamed Salah was vital for Liverpool as they won their 20th English top-flight title.
Sripad has been a Chelsea fan through and through since the age of 9 and can watch their 2012 Champions League triumph on repeat. The undisputed ‘GOAT’ according to him is Lionel Messi and his favorite managers are Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson. Apart from popular European leagues, he also likes to follow other leagues like the MLS, Saudi Pro League, Eredivisie, and Liga MX.
Sripad believes in only using the right sources for his articles, and is an expert in understanding how to get the right quotes for each news to provide proper background information. His exploits have led him to become a popular figure in European Football and interviewing Premier League legends such as Alan Shearer, Shay Given, Paul Dickov, and John Barnes. His articles have been much revered amongst the football fraternity and have been shared by the likes of John Terry, Gary Lineker, and Declan Rice.
If given a chance to change a football rule, Sripad wants VAR to be fully automated and offside rules to be less stringent. When not working, he likes to watch past Formula 1 races and play FIFA.
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