It was hailed as a cruel slam by Oh My Goal; The Sun called it a dig; The World Game went further and called it a cheeky dig; SPORTbible proclaimed it a Face with Tear of Joy emoji masterpiece; Piers Morgan jumped on the social media bandwagon; Cristiano Ronaldo’s sister tipped over the wagon and set it on fire in defense of her dear brother.
The footballing populace hasn’t been this charged and incited into Twitter fervor since Megan Rapinoe proposed the outlandish idea of taking it upon ourselves to make the world a better place.
So what happened?
Well, at Monday’s annual soccer-circle-jerk-a-palooza, Virgil van Dijk said he has “the upmost respect for all, especially for those two (Ronaldo and Messi), who are performing on such a high level for so many years.”
It’s a disgusting sentiment in today’s day and age when you should be building a personal brand whilst remaining simultaneously assured of the fact that you’ll never, ever die.
Het volledige fragment van de grap die Virgil van Dijk over Cristiano Ronaldo maakte tijdens de Ballon d'Or 2019@VirgilvDijk
The complete clip of the joke that Virgil van Dijk made about Cristiano Ronaldo during the Ballon d'Or 2019, with subtitles #VTBL #BallonDor2019 pic.twitter.com/hhGW7pvJ8d— VTBL (@vtbl) December 3, 2019
What the most esteemed of soccer websites picked up on was Van Dijk saying — in response to “competitor” Cristiano Ronaldo not being present — “Was he really a competitor?” before quickly retracting his joke with “No, no, no, look. I think he (Ronaldo) had another award to pick up tonight. That’s what’s being said. It’s all talk from the outside on which you don’t have any influence.”
But Van Dijk’s honesty had already triggered a shit storm that the Liverpool defender felt compelled to answer to.
Hi Piers, If you don’t jump on the social media bandwagon and would listen to the whole interview then you would know I made a joke, and only got respect for those 2
— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) December 2, 2019
Still, one thirsty-for-engagement tweet from SPORTbible has remarkable reach. Ronaldo’s 34-year-old sister went off on Instagram, saying:
"I think there are people living completely frustrated and unrealistic! It is well known that Ronaldo will not win tonight's prize. Although he has won important collective titles... but this is another conversation. We will see where the truth about football will come!
"Now, dear Virgil, where you are going, Cristiano Ronaldo has gone and come a thousand times. You see, my dear Virgil, that Cristiano Ronaldo was a tri-champion in the country where you have been playing for years and you still haven't got your hand on the trophy.
"Cristiano Ronaldo was even the best player and best scorer in the country where you play, Virgil. By the way, he was younger than you. Then, dear Virgil, Cristiano Ronaldo went to other places and became the greatest player in the history of Real Madrid. Tell you something, Virgil?
"Maybe so, because this club, with this Cristiano guy, even beat you in the Champions League final. Of these, Ronaldo already has five, Virgil. And that fellow Ronaldo and team-mates, with the corners on his chest, crushed your 'orange' in the final. Was it hard, Virgil?
"We have pity. And, dear Virgil, in one of the most accomplished times of your career, Cristiano Ronaldo has won even more titles than you. Awesome, isn't it? Now, Virgil, win titles from those who really count and then we'll talk. When you have a handful of them, the really important ones, you might be able to sit at the table with Cristiano. For me Cristiano you are and you will always be the best player in the world!"
Tl;dr: Dear Virgil, my dear, dear Virgil. My sweet boy Virgil. My dear Dutch boy Virgil. You see, my dear Virgil, what social media can do to us? I've lost it.
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