Virgil van Dijk was given a special moment during the international break after he hit a career landmark, with the defender continuing to star for the Netherlands
Virgil van Dijk of The Netherlands shows excitement during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Netherlands and Serbia
Virgil van Dijk hit a career milestone for the Netherlands during the international break(Image: (Photo by Yannick Verhoeven/Newhouse Media/MB Media/Getty Images))
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was given his own special moment on international duty after he hit 100 appearances for the Netherlands national team.
The defender started for the Oranje in their fourth and final UEFA Nations League clash of the current international break, coming up against Serbia once again. The Dutch, under new boss Xavi Hernandez, had registered two wins and one draw heading into the match, but with plenty of work to be done to reach the levels that are expected in terms of their performances.
That opportunity arose in the second meeting with Serbia of the extended three-week break, as Van Dijk was named in the team in a historic 100th appearance for the side.
As he led the team out as captain, the defender was given a special moment to mark the occasion, celebrating his 100th cap in style.
Van Dijk did so by having his son as the mascot, helping to lead the team out for the occasion, with a smile breaking across his face after the moment.
In making his 100th appearance, the 35-year-old became just the 11th player in the Dutch national team's history to hit the landmark, cementing his place in the history books.
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The night continued to get better for the Liverpool star, as Teun Koopmeiners opened the scoring from a free-kick, as a smart dummy from the defender saw the ball go all the way into the back of the net.
Mihajlo Cvetkovic did equalize shortly after, ruining the potential for a clean sheet, but a finish from Joshua Zirkzee in the 71st minute ensured another important three points went the way of the Netherlands.
It was an important victory for Van Dijk and his teammates, one that asserted his team's dominance at the top of its Nations League group from the first four of six matches.
Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk gestures during the UEFA Nations League football Group A2 match between the Netherlands and Serbia
Virgil van Dijk featured for the Netherlands against Serbia(Image: (Photo by Koen van Weel / ANP / AFP via Getty Images))
The Netherlands sit top with eight points, while a draw between Greece and Germany left those two teams on eight and five points respectively. It sets up an interesting clash for the Oranje in the next international break, who has to play both teams.
With the international break now over for Xavi's side, Van Dijk will be making his return to Liverpool, along with his fellow teammates Ryan Gravenberch and Jeremie Frimpong, to look forward to the challenges ahead on the domestic stage.
The Reds return to action in the next week against Manchester City, which will kickstart a nine-match run until the next international break, filled with plenty of challenges ahead.