Virgil van Dijk had a tremendous 2018/19 campaign.

The defender helped Liverpool to Champions League glory and 97 points in the Premier League.

However, despite being arguably the favourite to win The Best Men's player award on Monday night, Van Dijk missed out.

The award instead went to Barcelona's Lionel Messi, who scored 51 times last campaign.

Most people would be disappointed at missing out on such a prestigious award.

But not Van Dijk. Liverpool had a number of players in the running for the award, including Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

However, it has been revealed that Van Dijk voted for Messi to win, followed by Salah and Mane.

And Van Dijk claimed after the event that he was not disappointed because he cannot compare to the Argentinian.

"The people who vote made a decision and you have to accept it," Van Dijk told reporters, per Goal.

"That's just the case and as players you can't compare me and Messi because it's totally different.

"I'm very proud to be here.

"Disappointed? You can't be disappointed.

"I'm just very happy to be here, to be in the team of the year, after the hard work and the good work we put in last year.

"Today, I, unfortunately, didn't win but I'm not disappointed."

Pure class. That's not the first time Van Dijk has been full of praise for the Barcelona star.

After winning the Champions League earlier this year, Van Dijk became the favourite for the Ballon d'Or.

But Van Dijk said that Messi deserves the award regardless of his own personal achievements.

"I think Messi is the best player in the world and I think he deserves it as long as he plays," he said, per Marca.

"The Ballon d'Or is not something I am thinking of, but if it happens by any chance I will obviously take it.

"I don't think there is any case and I think that Messi is still the best player in the world and it doesn't matter if he isn't in the Champions League final."