Alaba racially abused over Messi FIFA Best vote

Real Madrid defender David Alaba explained wherefore helium did not ballot for teammate Karim Benzema up of Lionel Messi successful the 2022 Best FIFA Men's Player grant aft receiving maltreatment connected societal media, including racist tweets.

Awards are voted for by nationalist squad captains and coaches, journalists from crossed the globe and fans connected FIFA's authoritative website.

Alaba, the Austria captain, received maltreatment connected societal media from Madrid fans after helium gave 5 points to Messi, 3 to Benzema and 1 to Kylian Mbappe. A hashtag #AlabaOut trended connected societal media portion immoderate fans labelled him "Judas."

Former Barcelona prima Messi, who captained Argentina to 2022 World Cup glory, won the FIFA Best Men's Player grant connected Monday up of Paris Saint-Germain teammate Mbappe and Madrid's Benzema.

On Tuesday, Alaba tweeted: "The Austrian nationalist squad ballot for this grant arsenic a team, not maine alone. Everyone successful the squad assembly is capable to ballot and that's however it's decided. Everyone knows, particularly Karim, however overmuch I respect him and his performances."

Austria manager Ralf Rangnick did not ballot for Benzema but alternatively had Messi, Mbappe and Jude Bellingham arsenic his apical 3 choices.

Benzema won the 2022 Ballon d'Or grant successful October aft a sensational 2021-22 run with Madrid successful which helium scored a career-best 27 goals successful LaLiga and was apical scorer successful the Champions League with 15.

While Messi was named the World Cup's champion player successful Qatar, Benzema missed the tourney due to the fact that of injury.

Sources told ESPN that Benzema is not bothered by the votes for the award, but Alaba clarified the concern and expressed his admiration for his teammate.

Alaba tweeted: "And I person often said that for maine helium is the champion striker successful the world, and that is inactive the case. Without doubt."

Julien Laurens and Rodrigo Faez contributed to this report