By playing against Serbia on Sunday, Van Dijk became the 11th player to reach 100 caps for the Netherlands, following in the footsteps of Philip Cocu, Robin van Persie, Dirk Kuyt, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Daley Blind, Rafael van der Vaart, Frank de Boer, Memphis Depay, Edwin van der Sar, and record international Wesley Sneijder.
The long-time Oranje captain was grateful for reaching a century of caps, but was most grateful for one thing on Sunday evening.
“I’m very grateful. To the team, the staff, and the staff members I’ve worked with in the past, and ultimately, I’m most grateful to my family," Van Dijk, who walked out with his son Mase, told NOS. "They were here tonight too. A special evening and a wonderful milestone. Definitely something I’m very proud of.
"It was special to be standing there together. I think my little boy felt completely at ease. He even started waving. I just don’t know who he was waving to – my family were on the other side."
Van Dijk admitted that it was an emotional night, too, 11 years after making his Netherlands debut in Kazakhstan.
"I found it quite difficult back in the changing room. I have to say, I’m quite emotional. Especially at moments like this – it really is tough. But I’m so grateful. It was a lovely evening," Van Dijk continued before saying that he's not done yet.
“For me, it won’t stop at a hundred. It’s something I never dared to dream of; it felt far too distant to even think about when I was young.
"As a little boy, I always watched Oranje. Back then, I hoped to wear the orange shirt one day. But you don’t think you’ll do it a hundred times."
'Could've been more'
Van Dijk debuted late for the Netherlands, with the then-Southampton defender making his maiden Oranje appearance at 24 years old. 11 years and 100 games into his Netherlands career, Van Dijk reflected on the hardships and time he's missed after tearing his ACL in 2020.
“I've given it my all. Unfortunately, I missed out on another year; otherwise, I might well have come close to Wesley (Sneijder). But I’m proud and happy.”
The Netherlands beat Serbia 2-1 to take the top spot in Group A2 in the UEFA Nations League and extend manager Xavi's unbeaten start. Following the win, Xavi took a moment to emphasise what Van Dijk means to the team.
"I’ve just told the team in the changing room that I’m incredibly proud of Virgil. He’s a role model. He’s done really well, both for himself and for the team. He’s a true leader; I’m proud to be his coach," Xavi said.