Real Madrid defender David Alaba has been racially abused on social media after voting for Lionel Messi and his explanation.
Messi was named the best men’s player on Monday after leading Argentina to last year’s World Cup title in Qatar, with Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema in third place after a standout season helping Madrid to another Champions League title.
The awards were decided by a poll of national team captains and coaches, selected media and fans voting online from candidate lists decided by FIFA-appointed expert panels.
Alaba’s vote as captain of Austria’s national team – placing Messi first, Madrid teammate Benzema second and Kylian Mbappé, the eventual runner-up, in third – was among the results published by FIFA after the ceremony in Paris.
That choice provoked anger from Madrid fans and others because Alaba, who is Black, voted for Messi, who spent 17 seasons at Barcelona, Real Madrid’s biggest rival.
The Austria captain took to Twitter to explain that the vote was not his alone, but that of his entire national team.
“Regarding FIFA The Best Award: The Austrian national team vote for this award as a team, not me alone,” he wrote. “Everyone in the team council is able to vote and that’s how it’s decided.
“Everyone knows, especially Karim, how much I admire him and his performances and I have often said that for me he is the best striker in the world, and that is still the case. Without doubt.”
Messi claimed the men’s prize at an awards ceremony in Paris on Monday after leading Argentina to glory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
