Virgil van Dijk takes top prize as Lionel Messi beats Cristiano Ronaldo: Uefa Awards in pictures

It was a good night for Liverpool with two players receiving recognition

From left: Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson, Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin and Argentinian forward Lionel Messi pose after an awards ceremony. AFP

Barcelona's Messi and De Jong with their respective trophies. EPA

Messi receives his trophy for Uefa Forward of the Year. AFP

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk with the Uefa men’s Player of the Year and Champions League Defender of the Season awards. Reuters

Liverpool's Alisson with the Goalkeeper of the Season award. Reuters

De Jong receives the trophy from host Reshmin Chowdhury. EPA

England's Lucy Bronze of England delivers a video message as she has been awarded the Women Player of The Year.

Former French international Eric Cantona, left, receives the Uefa President's Award. AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus and Messi react during the Uefa Champions League draw. Getty Images

Messi speaks Ronaldo during the Uefa Champions League football group stage draw ceremony. AFP

Messi, Ronaldo and Van Dijk pose for a photo. Getty Images

Messi and his wife Antonella Roccuzzo. EPA

De Jong with his girlfriend Mikky Kiemeney. EPA

Retired Portuguese footballer Luis Figo and his wife Helen Svedin. AFP

Ronaldo arrives for the event in Monaco. AP Photo

Liverpool's Dutch Champions League-winning defender Virgil van Dijk was named Uefa's Men's Player of the Year on Thursday, while Lionel Messi beat Cristiano Ronaldo to the top forward award.

Van Dijk is the first defender to win the award, beating Ronaldo of Juventus and Barcelona's Messi who have won the award, established in 2010, five-times between them.

The 28-year-old Netherlands centre back has transformed Liverpool's defence since joining them from Southampton in January, 2018 for a then world record fee of £75 million (Dh335.6m) pfor a defender with his physical presence and superb reading of the game.

Van Dijk began his career in his homeland with Groningen and moved to Scottish club Celtic before heading to the Premier League, where he helped Liverpool to runners-up spot last season as well as a Champions League triumph over Tottenham Hotspur.

"It's been a long road but that's part of my journey, it's part of who I am. I needed it like this, I'm not a player who was 18 years old and had that rise straight away. I had to work hard for every step of the way - that's part of me and I'm very happy about that," said the Dutchman.

"I'm very proud to get this trophy and it's all credit to everyone that's helped me along the way."

Van Dijk had earlier picked up the Champions League Defender of the Season award.

Ronaldo and Messi, who have dominated the game's individual awards for the past decade, sat next to each other at the Uefa event and Ronaldo reflected on no longer being in direct competition with the Argentine in the Spanish league.

"It was a special year. I was curious because we've shared the stage here for 15 years. Of course, we have a good relationship. We have not yet had dinner but it is nice. We push each other and it's good to be part of the history of football," he said.

Bronze, the former Manchester City attacking fullback, enjoyed a successful season, winning the Champions League with Lyon and reaching the World Cup semi-final with England.

She finished ahead of club teammates Ada Hegerberg of Norway and Amandine Henry of France.

"I'm ecstatic and super humbled to have won the award up against two fantastic players who I know really well at Lyon; two great girls, great players.

"I want to say huge thanks to the Lionesses, the England team. We had a great summer and I don't think I would have won this award if it wasn't for them," she said.

Following are the award winners who were honoured by Uefa during the Champions League draw in Monaco.