Virgil van Dijk breaks new record with the Netherlands that shows why he is the right man to lead Liverpool forward - opinion
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The international break is almost over and it has seen some long-standing records be broken.Reds fans will have quite enjoyed the last week, with there being no domestic football that will cause them more pain being played.Liverpool have struggled massively early on, with Virgil van Dijk just one player who has been under the spotlight.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis. Wayne Rooney had questioned the captain over performances, but he has shown during his time away with the Netherlands that he still has what it takes to play at the top level.He also broke a 21-year record for his country during the last week, with this showing how he is the right man to lead Liverpool forward.Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty ImagesVirgil van Dijk breaks the record for the most time captaining the NetherlandsThe Netherlands confirmed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 win over Lithuania on Monday night.Not only was this a big game for this reason, but it was also a very special night for van Dijk who captained his country for the 72nd time.This is the most anyone has worn the armband for the Netherlands, with it also a pretty impressive feat given that he has just 88 caps.The record was previously held by Dutch legend Frank de Boer, with the former defender sending him a message of support.“Virgil, congratulations on breaking my record as the player with the most caps as captain of Oranje,” he said as per the Liverpool Echo.READ MORE: Roy Hodgson shares what Jamie Carragher came and said to him after he was sacked by Liverpool Do you want Ibrahima Konate to sign a new contract and stay at Liverpool?
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images “You’ve worn the armband 72 times – a great achievement of which you should be really proud.“You’re a true leader and hopefully many more great moments will follow with you as captain.”Virgil van Dijk is the perfect captain for Liverpool right nowAlthough they are going through a tricky period at the moment, there is no one else Liverpool would rather have leading them out.His track record speaks for itself, and this achievement shows just how important he is to any team.He signed a new two-year deal in the summer for a reason as he feels he still has plenty to give both on and off the pitch, with there still plenty more to come from the big Dutchman.Now, it is time for him to return to Liverpool and lead his team back out for a busy festive period of games, with this part of the season being make or break.