After an incredible 2018–19 season, Virgil Van Dijk was the clear favorite going into the FIFA Best Awards, but he lost to Lionel Messi.
The Liverpool player competed for the Champions League title and the Premier League runner-up slot, earning him the FIFA Player of the Year award for his efforts.
Virgil van Dijk is getting ready to set out on his family’s newest journey.
On Merseyside, the Dutchman will be accompanied by Rike Nooitgedagt, his childhood girlfriend.
He’s come a long way since making his debut for Groningen as a striker. Van Dijk was moved to the back when his defensive prowess was rapidly recognized, and prior to joining Merseyside, he traveled to Scotland and the south coast of England. And at every turn, his lifelong companion Rike Nooitgedagt and their dog have been by his side.
Despite the enormous success that Van Dijk’s career has brought him, Nooitgedagt very well may have been having her own in the fashion world if it weren’t for her commitment to her partner.
The daughter of the couple was born in 2014.
The couple has been together since they were young children, and Nooitgedagt was already well-known as a fashion sales manager when he started his football career. But in 2013, when Van Dijk’s chance to join Celtic came up, she quit her work to go with her partner to Glasgow.
Soon after the contract was finalized, she disclosed: “I was a sales manager for various fashion brands that I brought to the Dutch stores.” I had to step down to follow my man wherever football leads him, even though I loved it. We’ve been settling in nicely thus far and enjoying adventures with our wonderful puppy.”
The WAG openly declared beside a photo of the couple that “I love you not only for who you are but for who I am when I’m with you.” The couple has made no secret of their love for one another on the internet.
With a picture of them vacationing, Virgil wrote, “You are the love of my life!”
Additionally, the pair used to frequently post pictures of their cute dog on social media.
To be by Van Dijk’s side, Rike Nooitgedagt left her position as a fashion sales manager.
Dutch international defender Virgil van Dijk plays defense.
Virgil van Dijk signed with Liverpool for a reported £75 million from Southampton.
Even though it was a very dramatic birth, they sealed their love for one another back in 2014. September of that year was Rike’s due date, but the anticipated date coincided with Van Dijk’s first-ever senior international call-up. The celebrity planned for his fiancée to have an induced delivery out of desperation not to miss the arrival of his first child. Everything went perfectly as little feet started to arrive at their home, but Van Dijk was not chosen, so he had to wait for his Dutch bow. Soon after switching to the Premier League, in October 2015, he received his first cap against Kazakhstan, marking the impending arrival of that moment, which came a year later.
The couple’s public shows of affection are now rare, as Rike’s social media accounts appear to have been deleted. Instead, the defender prefers to limit his posts to football-related topics.