Virgil van Dijk, at 34 years old, remains indispensable for both the Netherlands and Liverpool, but his relentless playing time is causing concern. Since June 2025, no player in Europe’s top-five leagues has clocked more minutes than Van Dijk’s 5,841, with only 279 minutes missed across club and country.
In the Netherlands’ opening World Cup match against Japan, Van Dijk was pivotal, scoring a towering header and registering nine defensive contributions. He also took goal kicks and had 114 touches, more than any other player on the pitch, highlighting his orchestral role in Ronald Koeman’s system.
Despite his age, Van Dijk set a Premier League record last season by playing every minute of the campaign, surpassing John Terry. However, his heavy involvement in the World Cup, including potential knockout games, could tax his fitness for Liverpool’s new manager Andoni Iraola.
Conditions in Texas reached 31°C, and Van Dijk was the only player wearing a base layer. Japan equalised late after Van Dijk cleared from his own box, revealing the Netherlands’ dependence on him. Liverpool may need to secure a deputy to manage his workload.
