David Alaba has not made himself popular with Real Madrid supporters. That has everything to do with the Austrian defender’s vote at The Best FIFA Men’s Player award. It went to Lionel Messi.
The captains of the national teams were allowed to vote. Representing Austria, Alaba put PSG striker Kylian Mbappé in third place, teammate Karim Benzema in second and chose Lionel Messi as the very best. That did not go down well with Real’s supporters, who do not understand how Alaba could choose a figurehead of arch-rival Barcelona over Benzema.
On social media it rains comments under posts from Alaba. The hashtag #AlabaOut is even trending on Twitter. That has not gone unnoticed by the defender. “We voted together with the Austrian team for this award, not just me,” he counters. “Everyone is entitled to vote and that is as it has been determined. Everyone, especially Karim, knows how much I appreciate him and his achievements. I have said often enough that for me he is the best striker in the world and I still do. No doubt.”
Lionel Messi owes the FIFA awards to his national side
Lionel Messi was voted best footballer in the world on Monday night. The Argentinian became national champion with Paris Saint-Germain and won the World Cup with Argentina. According to Messi, he owes his prize mainly to the latter.
“It’s recognition for the whole group,” Messi said in his speech after winning the FIFA Best Men’s Player award.” Argentina is getting the recognition it deserves after winning the World Cup. It’s great to play with this group. It is the only prize I missed in my career, but this is now also the most important title of my career,” said Messi, who also made room for a joke. “I also want to give my children a kiss, because they are watching now. Thiago, Mateo and Ciro I love you. And now to bed!”
The Argentinian media are lyrical about Messi. “Winning this FIFA award makes us proud again, just like in Qatar,” Tyc Sports writes. He deserved it and brought us a happiness that will never be erased from our hearts. Messi will never be forgotten, because we know what he has done for this football country.”
La Nación calls Messi “the best of the best”. They wrote, “Even now in his thirties, he still shows the same look as when he was unapproachable at twenty. He was great before, but even more great now. Every team would like to borrow him for fifteen minutes. It is the footballer with the most fans in the world. Unthinkable if you go back to the time when he was a withdrawn, taciturn and distant boy.”
