Alaba abused after placing Messi ahead of Real teammate Benzema

Real Madrid defender David Alaba was racially abused on social media after voting for Leo Messi, and Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic accused soccer’s world governing body FIFA of disrespect on Tuesday.

Messi was named FIFA Best Player of Year on Monday after leading Argentina to last year’s World Cup title in Qatar, with Real’s French striker Karim Benzema in third place after a standout season helping Madrid to another Champions League title.

The award was decided by a poll of captains and coaches of the national teams, 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 Mbappe, the eventual runner-up, in third — provoked anger from Madrid fans and others.

Alaba, who is Black, voted for Messi, who spent 17 seasons at Barcelona, Real Madrid’s biggest rival.

“The Austrian national team vote for this award as a team, not me alone,” Алаба,  who joined Madrid last season after more than a decade at Bayern Munich, wrote on his social media accounts. “Everyone in the team council is able to vote and that’s how it’s decided.

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

— David Alaba (@David_Alaba) February 28, 2023

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“Everyone knows, especially Karim, how much I admire him and his performances. I have often said that for me he is the best striker in the world, and that is still the case. Without doubt.”

Meanwhile, Dalic said he refused to vote in protest at a perceived lack of respect for Croatia, who eliminated Brazil before losing to Argentina in the World Cup semifinals.

Croatia head coach Zlatko Dalić has not participated in the voting process for the 2022 The Best FIFA Football Awards, and he explained his stance in a letter published at HNS official website: https://t.co/UpqkV6Mifa pic.twitter.com/dQ8hDbLcT4

— HNS (@HNS_CFF) February 28, 2023

“I am disappointed with FIFA’s attitude towards the Croatian national team because I strongly maintain that, based on everything we’ve achieved as a national team, we deserve more respect from the head governing body of world football than we have received,” the coach said.

Croatia captain Luka Modric, another Real Madrid player, was fourth in the voting. He won the FIFA award in 2018 when his team reached the World Cup final, losing to France.