Lionel Messi doesn’t share the widespread opinion that Virgil van Dijk is the Premier League’s top defender.
While many hail the Dutch centre-back not only as the best in England right now but also as one of the greatest to ever play in the league, Messi seems to think otherwise.
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Van Dijk’s impressive list of achievements with Liverpool includes every major domestic trophy, along with a Champions League title in 2019. ..Continue Reading
Notably, he featured in the iconic 4-0 win over Messi’s Barcelona in the semi-finals of that tournament.
However, Messi had his moment of redemption during the 2022 World Cup, when Argentina knocked out the Netherlands—featuring Van Dijk—on penalties.
In a conversation following Argentina’s World Cup 2026 qualifying victory over Ecuador in late 2023, Messi instead heaped praise on Cristian Romero of Tottenham, signaling who he sees as a standout defender.
“For me, he (Romero) is the best defender in the world right now. Amazing performance tonight, man of the match,” said Messi.
Romero played a key role in Argentina’s defense during their dramatic penalty shootout victory over France in the 2022 World Cup final.
Since then, he has become a mainstay in Tottenham’s starting lineup, following his permanent transfer from Atalanta in 2022.
However, a hamstring injury has limited his involvement for Spurs this season. Despite that, the towering Argentine returned to lead the team as captain in their Europa League quarter-final second-leg win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are on the brink of securing the Premier League title. Should they succeed, it would mark van Dijk’s second league triumph with the club. Tottenham, on the other hand, are just two games away from reaching their first European final in 41 years.
Their last European trophy came in 1984 when they defeated Anderlecht on penalties in the UEFA Cup final. For Spurs to have a shot at ending their long trophy drought—dating back to their 2008 League Cup win—Romero’s fitness will be crucial.
If Tottenham manage to go all the way, Messi’s confident claim that Romero is the world’s best defender might begin to gain broader acceptance.
