Virgil van Dijk

Van Dijk surpassed Frank de Boer's all-time Netherlands captaincy record on 17 November 2025 in a 4-0 win over Lithuania, cementing his status as the defining leader of this Dutch generation.

He led the Oranje through World Cup Group F, where the Netherlands topped a section including Japan, Sweden and Tunisia, before the campaign ended in a 1-1 draw with Morocco that went to penalties in the round of 32.

Van Dijk's game is built on positioning and aerial command rather than raw pace — he reads attacks a step ahead, which lets him defend a back line from a standing start better than almost anyone of his generation.

He remains a genuine goal threat from set pieces, having scored 12 international goals largely from corners and free kicks, a share of Dutch danger unusual for a center-back.

At 34, Van Dijk arrived at the World Cup as captain of both Liverpool and the Netherlands, still first-choice at both after a season in which he remained a defensive fixture for Arne Slot's side.

Dutch reporting around the tournament suggested Van Dijk will step back from international football after this World Cup, closing out his Netherlands career at 90-plus caps as its most-decorated modern captain.