Real Madrid fans want Luka Modric to leave after seeing his Best FIFA Men's Player award votes

Real Madrid fans want Luke Modric to leave the club after seeing who he voted for in the Best FIFA Men’s Player award.

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi pipped Erling Haaland to the men’s player of the year at The Best FIFA Awards 2023 with the vote decided on a tie-break.

The award recognises the most exceptional performer between December 19, 2022 and August 20, 2023. Notably, performances at the 2022 World Cup, where Messi led Argentina to glory, were considered for the previous year's award rather than this edition.

Messi clinched the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 before moving to Inter Miami, where he scored 10 goals to help the club to the inaugural 2023 Leagues Cup, the Florida-based team’s first-ever trophy.

The 36-year-old beat Haaland to the award despite the City star scoring 30 goals between the period after the World Cup and before August 20, 2023. In that time Haaland's Manchester outfit claimed a Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup treble.

With Messi and Haaland both claiming 48 points, the final decision went to the vote of national team captains, with all four home nations - Harry Kane (England), Andy Robertson (Scotland), Aaron Ramsey (Wales) and Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland) - voting for Messi.

Moreover, Croatia’s captain, Modric has caused fury with his vote, putting Messi as his top pick, followed by Manchester City’s Rodri in second and international team-mate Marcelo Brozović in third.

And Madrid fans on Instagram are furious after the Real Madrid star voted for Barcelona icon Messi as the best player in the world.

One person simply wrote: “Out”, followed by a “Modric out” hashtag, while another said: “Why did you vote Messi as the best? Are you kidding Luke? You are ridiculous.”

A third person said: “Are you crazy? Why did you vote for Messi? Are you stupid?”

A fourth person said: “I can’t lie it’s crazy that you’d vote for Messi in the No.1 position after he didn’t do anything in the season. It makes no sense”.

Topics: Luka Modric, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Fan Reactions

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.