Ballon d'Or 2019: Cristiano Ronaldo's sister slams Virgil van Dijk for jibe

The Liverpool defender finished second in the race for the coveted individual award, head of the Portuguese serial winner.

Virgil van Dijk's jibe, when asked about Cristiano Ronaldo's absence for the Ballon d'Or 2019 ceremony, hasn't gone down well with the Portuguese's kin as Ronaldo's sister Katia Aveiro took to social media in an attempt to put the Liverpool defender in his place and wits.

When asked about the five-time winner's absence at the gala, van Dijk jokingly replied 'Was he a rival then?' following news that made rounds suggesting himself and Lionel Messi as the two serious contenders for the award this year.

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That taunting reply from the defender has sparked outrage among the supporting cast of the Juventus forward, none more so than Aveiro. The Portuguese star's sister put out a post on her Instagram account detailing the contrasting legacies of the two talented footballers.

In a long-composed post, Aveiro mentions, "Dear Virgil, where you are going, Cristiano Ronaldo has gone and has 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 in the can. Cristiano Ronaldo was even the best player and best scorer in the country where you play, Virgil."

According to Express, she further added, "Then, dear Virgil, Cristiano Ronaldo went to other places and became the greatest player in the history of a club (Real Madrid, where Cristiano is the top goalscorer in their history).  Tells you something, Virgil? Maybe so, because this club, with this Cristiano guy, even beat you in the Champions League final. Of these (the Ballon d'Or), Ronaldo already has five, Virgil."

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Unfinished with her tirade, Aveiro further wrote, "And, dear Virgil, in one of the least successful times of his career, Cristiano Ronaldo has won even more titles than you. Awesome, isn’t it? Now when you win titles from those that 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."

Aveiro though also had reasons to celebrate of her own as her brother Cristiano was present at the Gran Gala De Calico ceremony and won the 'Best Player in Serie A' honour.

But that diatribic reply signals her anger at the Dutch defender's poke at the serial winner as Ronaldo finished in third place behind Van Dijk and Lionel Messi in the Ballon d'Or 2019 rankings.

Katia's defence of Ronaldo's achievements comes on the back of his agent Jorge Mendes' claims on the debate surrounding the greatest between Ronaldo and Messi. The Portuguese super-agent still backed his star client to be the best claiming "Cristiano is the best player in history, and you know it!"