Ronaldo went Dutch but Oranje men lost top prize to Messi; Van Veenendaal named best women’s keeper

Despite Cristiano Ronaldo voting for Oranje men, the title for FIFA's best male footballer of the year went to Lionel Messi. Oranje captain Virgil van Dijk came in second place. Dutch Sari van Veenendaal won the title for best female keeper of the year, NU.nl reports.

The votes for these titles were cast by national coaches and captains of the national FIFA teams, and representatives of the media. Messi won the title with 46 votes. Van Dijk came in second with 38. And Ronaldo in third with 36. Ronaldo voted for Matthijs de Ligt as world footballer of the year, and put Frenkie de Jong in second place, according to a published list of votes.

Van Dijk can live with second place, he said to NOS after the awards ceremony on Monday. "Messi is a great football player, perhaps the best of all time", he said to the broadcaster. "This is not bitter for me. I am very happy for him."

Sari van Veenendaal is proud and delighted with her title of best female keeper. "I am actually speechless", the 29-year-old keeper for the Oranje Lionesses said to NU.nl. "We had such a wonderful summer with the team, played in a World Cup final and eventually won the silver medal. This prize is an extra cherry on the cake."

The award for best female footballer o the year went to Megan Rapinoe.