Planet Football listed five players who finished in the Ballon d'Or top three while representing Liverpool. In that group, Michael Owen became the first Liverpool player to win the award.
Planet Football's list
Planet Football said only five players have made the Ballon d'Or podium while representing Liverpool. Planet Football said one Liverpool player finished second in the 2019 Ballon d'Or.
Dalglish and Van Dijk
Kenny Dalglish finished runner-up to Michel Platini in 1983. Planet Football said seven points separated Van Dijk from Lionel Messi in the 2019 Ballon d'Or voting. Planet Football said Van Dijk received more first-place votes than Messi in the 2019 Ballon d'Or voting.
Owen's award and reaction
Planet Football said Owen beat Raul to the Ballon d'Or by 36 points. Owen later told FourFourTwo: "I believe I don’t get the sort of credit that other people would get for winning the Ballon d’Or."
Owen on the Ballon d'Or
Owen later told FourFourTwo: "It’s never been that important in our country. When I was in Spain, they said I was a hero for winning it. I’m immensely proud of winning it. I look down the list of names, and I still have it saved on my phone – a photo of the points system and who was second, third, fourth and the rest of it."
Owen later told FourFourTwo: "You look at that list and it’s awe-inspiring. That’s all I ever wanted as a kid. I didn’t just want to be a footballer; I wanted to be the best footballer. Winning it feels better now than it did when I was playing. You’re 22 – it’s just another trophy, and now I’ve got to win it again."