As controversy trailed Messi’s emergence as the FIFA Best player of the year 2022, David Alaba has been a victim of online and racial abuse from some Real Madrid fans after it revealed that as captain of the Austrian national team, Alaba voted for Messi to win the award ahead of his club teammate, Karim Benzema....CONTINUE READING
The abuse and insult was so much the defender had to issue a statement, explaining why Messi got his vote instead of Benzema who he voted second.
Alaba’s Statement
“Regarding FIFA The Best Award:
“The Austrian national team vote for this award as a team, not me alone. 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.”
In my opinion, Alaba did not have to explain himself to these fans. Despite explaining that it wasn’t his sole decision to vote for Messi, he still had every right to vote for Messi if he wanted to.
Voting for the the FIFA best player award should be based on merit and not by loyalty to teammates. Benzema had a great year for Real Madrid earlier in the year but Messi ended the year on a high.
He won FIFA’s main trophy, the World Cup and Benzema didn’t even get the chance to compete because of injury.
It would be ludicrous had Benzema won it ahead of Messi. So the fact that Alaba voted for Messi ahead of Benzema shouldn’t even be an issue if we want this award to be credible.
