Karim Benzema has let his feelings known about Lionel Messi winning the FIFA Player of the Year award. Messi recently took home his seventh FIFA Player of the Year award after a glorious 2022 season. Messi got his crowning moment last season as he led Argentina to World Cup glory last year. However, it seems that Benzema is not particularly happy with Messi’s achievement.
Karim Benzema had a mixed season last year. Benzema led Real Madrid to its record 14th UEFA Champions League title. However, the French international missed the World Cup due to injury. France was handed the disappointing news of Benzema’s absence before even kicking off their World Cup campaign. Although, Benzema was rewarded for his success last year by winning his first Ballon d’Or title last year.
LA SCALONETA. 🚬🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/Ay6cBNSHJp
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) February 27, 2023
Recently, Benzema boycotted the FIFA Best awards after it became known that he wasn’t the front-runner for the award. It was an Argentine night in Paris as Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni, Argentine keeper Emiliano Martinez, and Argentina’s mercurial captain Lionel Messi swept up the Best Coach, Best Goalkeeper, and Best Player awards respectively.
Just a few days after the awards, Benzema took to Instagram where he shared a post that highlighted his achievements from the last year. It seemed to be a dig aimed at Messi’s victory. However, Lionel Messi also didn’t hold back. The PSG star shared a picture of him holding the FIFA World Cup trophy from last year on his Instagram account.
David Alaba forced to apologize for voting in favor of Lionel Messi
David Alaba had to forcibly issue an apology after it was found out that he voted in favor of Lionel Messi at the FIFA Best Awards instead of Benzema. Alaba decided to vote for Messi ahead of his Real Madrid teammate, Karim Benzema. However, the Real Madrid fans became rather infuriated with Alaba.
Many fans insulted Alaba on social media platforms. Rather, unfortunately, some fans even decided to racially abuse the Real Madrid defender. These incidents forced Alaba to put out a statement clarifying his actions and issuing an apology for Benzema. The Austrian star wrote, “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. “
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
“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.” While Benzema hasn’t addressed this incident, sources from ESPN have reported that there’s no problem between him and Alaba.
