Virgil van Dijk has shown his admiration for Barcelona legend Ronaldinho in the past and the Brazilian has now sent a message himself
Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho sent a message to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk(Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Brazilian icon Ronaldinho expressed gratitude to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk for displaying affection after he posted an image of himself sporting a 'Ronaldinho 10' shirt while working out.
Van Dijk shared a series of pictures on the platform Instagram to his 17 million followers and among the snapshots was Liverpool's No. 4 jogging on a treadmill whilst donning a Brazil strip bearing Ronaldinho's name across the back, reports Liverpool.com.
Ronaldinho noticed the picture and responded with a comment stating: "Thanks for the love brother, see you soon in Liverpool."
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Van Dijk has previously admitted that Ronaldinho was his favourite footballer during his youth. During a conversation with an Indian media organisation in 2024, Van Dijk was questioned about his earliest football hero and immediately replied: "Ronaldinho."
When asked to elaborate, Van Dijk added: "I played a lot of football on the streets when I was younger and obviously then you play multiple opponents and you play all over (he pitch).
"When I was younger I really liked to do the tricks, so yeah, he was my idol."
Speaking to Sky Sports' Gary Neville in 2022, Van Dijk also discussed his respect for Ronaldinho, commenting: "It's just the way that he was, especially after the second season that he joined Barcelona. He was the difference-maker, you know? He was the one that everybody was looking to see and his goals, his tricks and his flair.
"Obviously you played against him a couple of times and at that point he was the best player in the world and he inspired me in different way because I'm not a striker, but he influenced who I am today."
Ronaldinho is considered among the greatest footballers of all time, and was at his peak during the mid-2000s, when he was Barcelona's talisman.
The 45-year-old, who also turned out for clubs including Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan throughout his career, claimed the Ballon d'Or in 2005 and secured the FIFA World Player of the Year award in both 2004 and 2005.
Ronaldinho, who also proved instrumental for Brazil as the Selecao claimed the World Cup in 2002, hung up his boots in 2018 and now serves as an ambassador for former club Barcelona.