2019 Ballon D'Or: Carragher speaks on Van Dijk winning ahead of Messi

Former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher, has said that Barcelona captain Lionel Messi, is ahead of Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, in the race to win the next Ballon D'Or prize.

Van Dijk couldn't help Netherlands to silverware on Sunday. as they lost 1-0 in the Nations League final, thanks to Goncalo Guedes' 60th minute strike for Portugal.

Carragher has admitted he would favour an attacker for the award.

"I saw he's gone ahead of Messi in the betting.

"I'd be thinking Messi to be honest - very rarely you see a centre-back get that.

"I think that Cannavaro got it on the back of winning the World Cup in 2006. I don't think his game has changed too much over the season.

"He's obviously had a great season but I think you've got to win big things and I think that Champions League has put that stamp on him being one of the world's best," he told Sky Sports.

Fabio Cannavaro was the last defender to win the Ballon d'Or, lifting Europe's most coveted individual prize in 2006, after winning the World Cup for Italy and lifting the Serie A title in Juventus colours.