Manchester United Treble winner Jaap Stam says Virgil van Dijk owes his Liverpool teammates for his individual success.

The Dutchman himself has been celebrated individually, winning the PFA Player of the Year in the 2018/19 season, and finishing runner-up in FIFA's Best Player and the Ballon d'Or awards to Lionel Messi.

But Stam told Goal: "Virgil has been very good.

"But the thing that people don't always understand is that the team-mates you have around you make you very good as well.

"As a player you need to have the ability and the quality to get to the top and that's what he has, but having quality people around you sometimes makes life a little bit easier for you as well and it makes you look like you are one of the best in the world.

“That was the same for myself and for other good centre-backs. That's how it goes in football."

However Stam also took nothing away from the 28-year-old, who has had to battle his way from playing at Celtic to the Premier League, as well as justify his £75million price tag.

"Virgil is one of the best in the world right now," Stam added. "He's been doing great and his route from Scotland, to Southampton and then to Liverpool has been ideal for him.

"I think he's adjusted to every level and that tells you something about his mentality as well."