Real Madrid defender David Alaba has revealed on social media why he did not give teammate Karim Benzema his first-place vote for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award.
France international Benzema won the 2022
Ballon d’Or after for leading Real Madrid to its 14th Champions League crown
last season, at the same time helping them regain La Liga from Atletico Madrid.
Impressive World Cup campaigns by Lionel
Messi and Kylian Mbappe’s made them the favorites to win Best FIFA Men’s Player
award, which was presented with Messi ultimately carting home the prize.
Each national team captain is allowed to cast
three votes for the awards, and Alaba, as the Austria skipper, selected Messi
as his first pick, followed by Benzema in second place. Mbappe received his
third and final vote.
Alaba was subjected to racist abuse from Real
Madrid fans for not choosing Benzema as his top choice after FIFA released the
full voting details.
Taking to twitter to clarify his decision,
stating: ‘Regarding FIFA The Best Award: The Austrian national team votes for
this award as a team, not just me. The team council votes, and that’s how the
decision is made.
‘’Everyone knows, particularly Karim, how
much I admire him and his performances. I have often said that he is the best
striker in the world, and that still holds true. There’s no doubt about it,“ he
wrote.
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