Liverpool dominated the UEFA
awards in Monaco on Thursday
evening, as Virgil Van Dijk picked
up two awards and Alisson picking
up one.
Van Dijk and Alisson were heavy
favourites to win in their respective
positions, but the Dutch defender
winning the Men’s Player of the Year
may well come as a shock, as he beat
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to
the major gong.
Sportsmail takes a look at all the
award winners, at the event where
the Champions League group stage
draw was also revealed.
Men’s Player of the Year
VIRGIL VAN DIJK
Van Dijk picks up the major award,
beating Lionel Messi and Crisitano
Ronaldo to UEFA’s major men’s gong.
Van Dijk had a terrific season, and
was integral to the Liverpool side who
won the Champions League in Madrid
in June.
He was the PFA Player of the Year last
season, but this individual honour
may well rank higher given who he
was up against.
Women’s Player of the Year
LUCY BRONZE
England and Lyon’s Lucy Bronze won
the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year.
After playing an integral part in
Lyon’s run to winning the Women’s
Champions League, right back Bronze
was a vital cog in the England
women’s side which reached the
semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup
in France – she scored a memorable
long-range goal in the quarter-final
against Norway.
Goalkeeper of the 2018/19 Champions League season
ALISSON BECKER
Liverpool’s number one was named
the 2018/19 UEFA goalkeeper of the
year at the awards in Monaco,
following a fantastic first season at
Anfield.
Alisson kept a clean sheet in the
famous comeback second-leg victory
against Barcelona, and made a string
of important saves in the final against
Tottenham, as Liverpool won the
competition for the sixth time.
Defender of the 2018/19 Champions League season
VIRGIL VAN DIJK
Virgil Van Dijk was a colossus at the
back for Champions League winners
Liverpool last season.
The Holland captain scored a crucial
away goal in the Reds’ last-16 tie
against Bayern Munich, and
marshalled the defence all the way to
the final, where he was named the
official man-of-the-match against
Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.
Van Dijk can add this award to his PFA
Player of the Year prize for last
season.
Midfielder of the 2018/19 Champions League season
Frenkie de Jong won the Midfielder of
the Season award for the 2018/19
UEFA Champions League campaign
following his performances for Ajax.
The 22-year-old became one of the
hottest properties in European
football as the Amsterdam club
battled their way through to the UEFA
Champions League semi-finals, before
losing out to Tottenham. Barcelona
confirmed in January that the
Dutchman would move to Camp Nou
in time for the 2019/20 season.
Forward of the 2018/19 Champions League season
LIONEL MESSI
Lionel Messi took home the forward
of the season award, after scoring 12
goals in 10 Champions League
appearances.
The Argentinean forward scored a
sensational free kick in the semi-final
first leg against Liverpool, and
although he couldn’t quite guide
Barcelona to the final, the captain had
another brilliant individual season,
scoring 50 goals in 51 appearances in
all competitions.
