From Odumodublvck to Adekunle Gold: Liverpool star Van Dijk hugs Afrobeats star at Ballon d’Or ceremony

 At the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, a clip went viral of Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk greeting Afrobeats star Adekunle Gold with a warm hug on the red carpet.

 Van Dijk, who attended the ceremony with his wife, Rike Nooitgedagt, was among the most photographed players on the night. 

Adekunle Gold, dressed in a classic black tuxedo, was making his first ever appearance at the Ballon d’Or. 

It was not only his pose that stood out but the symbolism as well as Afrobeats continues to make its way into global football culture.

Adekunle Gold has built a respected catalogue of music that includes several acclaimed albums and a string of hit singles. 

He is known for his songwriting and blending highlife, R&B and Afrobeats, with songs such as “Okay,” “Orente” and “Sade.” 

His more recent work has introduced deeper Yoruba influences and Fuji sounds. 

Adekunle Gold is set to release his sixth album, titled Fuji.

The project is expected to be out across major streaming platforms on October 3, 2025. 

The Ballon d’Or hug is just the latest public link up between Van Dijk and Nigerian artists.

 In March 2025, Nigerian Hip Hop sensation Odumodublvck met Van Dijk and Joe Gomez at Anfield. 

Van Dijk and Odumodublvck exchanged shirts as photos of their encounter went viral on social media. 

Odumodublvck captioned his post with a rallying line that included the club motto and a tease, ‘THE MACHINE IS COMING” for his forthcoming album ‘INDUSTRY MACHINE’

In public interviews, Van Dijk has often listed Nigerian artists among his favourite performers. 

In 2024, the 34-year-old Dutch defender revealed that his top five matchday playlist included Omah Lay’s “Holy Ghost,” Asake’s “Lonely At The Top” and Rema’s “Charm.” 

Beyond playlists, Van Dijk has been spotted listening to Nigerian tracks during training sessions.

 Earlier this year, a video surfaced of Van Dijk vibing to Fireboy DML's hit song "Peru" during a training session with the Dutch national team.

Liverpool are enjoying a strong start to the 2025 season under Arne Slot. 

The reigning Premier League champions have won all five of their opening matches in the Premier League and Van Dijk has played every minute of those games. 

Van Dijk scored the winning goal in the Champions League group stage opener, a dying-minute header that sealed a 3–2 victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

Liverpool’s next fixture is against Southampton in the EFL Cup.

 Van Dijk may be rested for that match, but his leadership remains crucial to the Red’s form this season.