The former Celtic and Southampton star made the comment during a Question and Answer session on Twitter on Tuesday evening.
Van Dijk faced off with Messi during the Champions League semi-finals between Liverpool and Barcelona last season.
Although the Spanish and European giants won the first leg 3-0 at Camp Nou, Jurgen Klopp’s side staged a brilliant comeback in the second leg at Anfield to win it 4-0 and progressed to the final, which they won against Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
There are some difficult strikers out there but probably Leo Messi
— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) March 31, 2020
Stats
Van Dijk has scored four goals and provided one assist in 29 Premier League matches, and has played eight times in the Champions League for Liverpool so far this season.
Messi has scored 19 goals and provided 12 assists in 22 La Liga matches, and has scored two goals and provided three assists in six Champions League games for Barcelona so far this campaign.
Football in England and in Spain is suspended at the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic.