Virgil van Dijk is unquestionably the top centre back in the world right now.

The Liverpool star's return from an awful injury has only further served to emphasise just how good he is as he hit the ground running and looked like he had never been out.

Van Dijk is crucial cog in the Liverpool machine and is without a doubt one of the first names on the team-sheet when Jurgen Klopp sits down to pick his side.

There would have been a collective sigh of relief on the red half of Merseyside when it became clear that van Dijk would be fit for the upcoming Champions League final with Liverpool looking to clinch their seventh title.

Liverpool without Van Dijk is a completely different beast.

So you can hardly blame the man when, in a recent discussion with Rio Ferdinand he picked himself in a five-a-side team made up of the best players in the world right now.

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Virgil van Dijk's 5-a-side team

Alisson

In goal, Van Dijk kept things close to home by going with with Liverpool teammate, Alisson.

Alisson shared the Premier League Golden Glove with Ederson after a season that saw him right back to his best.

Virgil van Dijk

While picking yourself in a team like this can often leave a sour taste in the mouths of some fans, you can't argue that Van Dijk had no choice but to pick himself.

If he can help Liverpool lift the Champions League on Saturday night, his choice will be even more justified.

Kevin De Bruyne

De Bruyne is another non-negotiable after the season he has just had.

There's a reason the Belgian won Player of the Season in the Premier League - the man continues to push the boundaries in the colours of Manchester City

Kylian Mbappe

Van Dijk has gone for the pace and guile of Mbappe after the Frenchman confirmed he will be staying at PSG.

Karim Benzema

The Real Madrid talisman is one of the leading contenders for the Ballon d'Or and was always going to be picked.

He has the capability to turn any game on its head and is going to be Liverpool's tormentor in chief in Paris on Saturday night.

It's not often that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi miss out on this kind of team but perhaps it is a sign of the changing times.

You can hardly say that either have been at their best this season and there is no room for sentiment with this sort of thing.