Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk enjoyed ‘amazing’ weekend of celebrations.
The Reds skipper led Liverpool to a hard-fought 1-0 Premier League victory over Burnley as Mohamed Salah’s late penalty, awarded after Hannibal Mejbri’s handball, ensured reigning champions left Burnley with all three points, but Van Dijk’s attention soon turned to another Liverpool team.
He also heard his Liverpool U13 side lifted the trophy in his namesake youth tournament in the Netherlands.
The inaugural Virgil’s Legacy Trophy took place in Tilburg, the home of Van Dijk’s former club Willem II, and saw 16 teams compete in a showcase of young talent. Liverpool’s U13 team emerged victorious, topping their group, progressing through the knockout stages, and ultimately defeating Manchester City in the semi finals and Feyenoord 2-1 in a thrilling final.
Striker Ade Adediran stole the show with his attacking prowess, earning the Diogo Jota Award as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after scoring eight goals in five matches. Meanwhile, Joshua-Kyle Mfunyi was recognised as the tournament’s best defender, adding to the young Reds’ success under the guidance of former Liverpool academy striker Michael Yates
The tournament also coincided with a special honour from Willem II, who renamed their main stand at the youth stadium the Virgil van Dijk Tribune to celebrate their academy graduate’s achievements. All of Van Dijk’s former clubs including FC Groningen, Celtic, and Southampton took part in the tournament, but Liverpool were the only team to progress beyond the group stage.
Although Van Dijk had hoped to attend the event in person, his responsibilities as Liverpool captain meant he was tied up at Turf Moor. Still, he received the news of the team’s triumph shortly after full-time.
Virgil van Dijk FaceTiming the victorious Liverpool U13s to pass on his congratulations. Today they won Virgil’s Legacy Trophy at his former club Willem II in Holland.
The young Reds beat Man City in the semis and Feyenoord in the final. pic.twitter.com/MS41d9B9XS— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) September 14, 2025
He was spotted video-calling the U13 squad to personally pass on his congratulations, demonstrating the pride he feels for the next generation of Reds.
“I ran in and found out that the boys did us proud in my own youth tournament in Holland,” Van Dijk said on the club’s official website. “The Liverpool U13 boys won my tournament. I think they had an amazing time. It was almost a sell-out at the stadium from what I’ve heard and everyone had a good time.”
He added: “I think the whole day, the players had a fantastic experience, all of the teams, so I was really pleased with that. I watched the games on the way to Burnley, watched it on Saturday. Unfortunately I obviously couldn’t be there because I had some duties today I had to do!”
“But I’m very pleased that everything went well. I could say so many things; I’m just buzzing about that because this has been something that is very close to my heart. I can keep talking about it and will keep this smile as well! An amazing day overall with everything that happened.”
It was a weekend that showcased Van Dijk’s leadership on multiple levels guiding Liverpool to a crucial Premier League victory while simultaneously nurturing the next generation of talent. The combination of triumphs at Turf Moor and in Tilburg made it a memorable weekend for the Dutch defender, his young stars, and Liverpool supporters alike.
