Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is the favourite with the bookies to win the Ballon d'Or.

The Dutch defender enjoyed a stunning 2018/19 campaign with the Reds, winning the Champions League and the PFA Player of the Year.

Van Dijk was also rewarded for his efforts with both UEFA Men's Player of the Year accolade UEFA Best Defender of the Year accolades.

If he adds the Ballon d'Or to his ever-growing collection, he will be the first defender to win the award since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.

And fellow defender Sergio Ramos is happy that Van Dijk is forcing his way into the Ballon d'Or equation.

The Spaniard - who is still public enemy number one with Liverpool fans after the 2018 Champions League final - says Van Dijk would be a worthy winner of football's most prestigious personal prize.

However, the Real Madrid captain does suggest that the award has been too focused on Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the past.

He also bemoans the lack of attention given to Spanish players in recent years.

"If Van Dijk wins it, it will be on sufficient merit," Ramos said at the launch of his new Amazon Prime documentary, per Evening Standard. "Great defender.

"As a defender, it's harder. It seems as though it's not just Messi and Cristiano [now]. It seems there's a route opening [for others]."

However, he added: "It makes you think [when you realise] that no Spanish players have won it.

"It's an individual prize and it's not really known what is being recognised."

Ramos may have a point.

The likes of Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez and Ramos himself have been key men in World Cup, European Championship and Champions League victories.

So why have they not been rewarded for their efforts? Especially when Luka Modric scooped the prize last time around.