Liverpool’s No.4 took second place for the accolade of the world’s best men’s player, presented by France Football magazine, after a poll of international journalists.
Van Dijk – who collected the PFA Players’ Player of the Year, Premier League Player of the Season and UEFA Men’s Player of the Year prizes earlier this year – is the first Reds man to feature in the top three since Fernando Torres in 2008.
He becomes only the third serving Liverpool player to finish first or second in the Ballon d’Or – after Kenny Dalglish (second in 1983) and Michael Owen (winner in 2001).
“You need to respect greatness. I was close, but there was just someone a little bit better,” said Van Dijk.
“I’m very proud of what I achieved last year, with Liverpool and Holland. Hopefully we can do it again this year.
“I never thought I would be up for a Ballon d’Or until I was actually nominated. It says a lot about how my career has been, it has never been easy. I came late but I never gave up on my dreams. I had to work very hard every step of the way.
“Where I am right now is something I’m very proud of. To be here makes me very proud and makes me want to work even harder and hopefully be here next year again.”
After winning the Champions League in June, the Reds dominated the highest rankings with four representatives in the top seven.
Sadio Mane claimed fourth spot, one place ahead of fellow Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, while Alisson Becker led the way for goalkeepers in seventh.
The club had seven nominees on the 30-man shortlist and they finished in the following positions in the vote.
2nd – Virgil van Dijk
4th – Sadio Mane
5th – Mohamed Salah
7th – Alisson Becker
17th – Roberto Firmino
19th – Trent Alexander-Arnold
=26th – Georginio Wijnaldum