Virgil van Dijk was joking when he questioned whether Cristiano Ronaldo was one of his rivals to win the 2019 Ballon d’Or. Instead, Ronaldo's sister Katia, launched an angry rant at the Liverpool defender.
At the awards ceremony in Paris on Monday, Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi was crowned the winner, beating Van Dijk to claim the coveted prize for the sixth time in his career.
On the red carpet, Van Dijk threw a brash comment at the expense of Ronaldo when asked what he thought of the former Real Madrid star’s absence from the event.
When asked what it would be like having one of his rivals not show up, the 28-year-old responded: “Was he a rival then?”
This did not go down with football fans, especially Ronaldo’s sister Katia, who thrashed the Liverpool defender in a lengthy rant on Instagram.
Alongside a picture of Ronaldo scoring his stunning overhead kick against Juventus in the Champions League two seasons ago, she wrote: “I think there are people living completely frustrated !!! And unrealistic… such humility!
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“It is well known that Ronaldo will not win tonight’s prize. Although I have won important collective titles … but this is another conversation and that up ahead we will see where the truth about football will come!!!
“Now, dear Virgil, where you are going, Cristiano Ronaldo has gone and has come a thousand times.
“You see, my dear Virgil, that Cristiano Ronaldo was a tri-champion in the country where you have been playing for years and you still haven’t got your hand in the can.
“Cristiano Ronaldo was even the best player and best scorer in the country where you play Virgil. By the way, I was even younger than you.
“Then, dear Virgil, Cristiano Ronaldo went to other places and became the greatest player in the history of a clubezito. Real Madrid, tell you something Virgil? Maybe so, because this club, with this Cristiano guy, even beat you in the Champions League final.
“Of these [awards], Ronaldo already has five, Virgil. And that fellow Ronaldo and team-mates, with the corners on his chest, crushed your “orange” in a final. Was it hard, Virgil? We have pity. And, dear Virgil, In one of the least successful times of his career, Cristiano Ronaldo has won even more titles than you.
“Awesome, isn’t it? Now Virgil will win titles from those who really count and then we’ll talk. When you have a handful of them, the really important ones, you might be able to sit at the table with Cristiano. Or as they say in our land, it grows and appears! It’s for me Cristiano you are and you will always be the best player in the world !!!
“And who does not like to put it on the wheel of the plate !!! (as they say in our land, small for many) but where came the best ever.”
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