David Alaba, captain of the Austrian national team, has come under fire for voting Lionel Messi in the 2022 FIFA Best Footballer of the Year award.

After the completion of the “Best” award ceremony, FIFA always publishes a list of votes of coaches and captains of different national teams, as well as journalists.

Alaba selected Lionel Messi first, leaving teammate Karim Benzema second and Kylian Mbappe third. Real Madrid fans attacked him on social media, according to the Argentine newspaper Ole.

Social media accounts have unleashed racist attacks and threats, and Real Madrid fans are demanding he leave the team using the #alabaout hashtag.

The Austrian international defender decided to publicly justify his vote and wrote on his Twitter account and Instagram: “Regarding the FIFA Best Award: the Austrian team votes for this award as a team, not just me. Everyone on the team can vote and that is how the final vote is decided,” Alaba began and added: “Everyone knows, especially Karim, how much I admire him and his game, and I have said many times that for me he is the best striker. in the world and it continues to be. Without a doubt”.

Regarding the FIFA The Best award:
The Austrian national team voted for this award as a team, not me alone. Everyone on the team council can vote, and that’s how things are decided.

Everyone knows, especially Karim, how much I admire him and his performances.

— David Alaba (@David_Alaba) February 28, 2023

Alaba’s post received 99,700 likes and 5,700 comments.

Karim Benzema, who had a great year at Real Madrid but missed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to injury, finished third behind Messi and Kylian Mbappe. Benzema won 34 votes, 18 fewer than Lionel Messi (52) and 10 fewer than Kylian Mbappé.

RES-EMP source