David Alaba has been doing this job for decades. He doesn't just do it well; measured by success, he does it better than any Austrian before him.
His "once in a lifetime" moment
In these weeks, however, he isn't just doing his job. He's living his childhood dream. As captain of the Austrian national team at a World Cup – for the Viennese player, this is a "once in a lifetime" moment.
That he is experiencing it is not a given – quite apart from the struggles of qualification.
The Long Sufferings of David A.
The story of the highly decorated player's suffering is known in this country by anyone who can distinguish a penalty kick from a free-kick.
A severe knee injury in December 2023, missing EURO 2024, speculation about retirement, constant doubts, few games. But now, when it truly matters, he is there.
Alaba's past season was de facto entirely dedicated to this World Cup. The goal was to gain enough match practice at Real Madrid to be ready for the biggest tournament of his life.
However, Real Madrid is not a development station for footballers whose bodies, due to age and injury history, no longer function with the regularity that sporting directors and coaches desire. By its own definition, it is the biggest and best club in the world.
Alaba repeatedly struggled with calf problems. It would be an exaggeration to say he occasionally featured for the "White Ballet". Six starts, a total of 575 minutes played.
The Last Dance, All the Songs
For context: In international matches since summer 2025, the ÖFB star played only twelve minutes less – and even then, he missed three games and only came on as a substitute in one.
Against this backdrop, it is astonishing that the family man has led the ÖFB team onto the field as captain in all three group matches, not taking a break, gritting his teeth.
But then again, realistically, it's his last big dance with this national team. You don't miss a single song.
The Leader and His Importance
After the opening match against Jordan, he spoke of a "truly very, very special day".
In all three group matches, the man who celebrated his 34th birthday before the Algeria game was taken off after about an hour. His calf simply can't give more at the moment.
That the leader of this team makes his teammates better is beyond doubt. Off the pitch anyway – the experienced leader who has already experienced so much in his career, who can motivate his colleagues emotionally and with humor and charm.
Whether he still improves this team on the pitch has often been discussed in recent months. Interestingly, however, seemingly only outside the team. For Ralf Rangnick, it seems to apply: If David is fit, he plays.
A look at the numbers after the World Cup group stage proves the national coach right.
Progression with Passes
The veteran is Austria's most creative center-back. Neither Philipp Lienhart nor Kevin Danso has yet managed to break lines with this quality – 78.9 percent of Alaba's line-break attempts were successful (Lienhart 75.7%, Danso 70%).
And this, even though Alaba takes more risks than his teammates, playing balls not only behind the first line but also directly in front of or behind the opponent's last defensive line. Just recall the sublime pass to Marko Arnautovic before his goal against Algeria.
In this respect, it is astonishing that his pass completion rate of 91 percent is just as high as that of the other center-backs, despite him taking more risks.
Positioning in Possession
His positioning when a teammate has the ball is also interesting.
While excursions into midfield are rare at this World Cup, he nevertheless offers himself in front of the ball, between the lines, and with inward movements to create new passing angles.
That the 116-cap international can handle the ball is not a new insight. But what about when the opponent has possession? Is Alaba still up to the physical demands of Rangnick's pressing?
Balls Won and Pressing Sequences
On the one hand, there are raw numbers that speak for themselves. He wins 18.2 second balls per 90 minutes – putting him well ahead of Danso (13.3) and Lienhart (12).
He also surpasses his colleagues in "defending forward".
Player | Pushing On/90 | Into Pressing/90 |
|---|---|---|
Alaba | 7,2 | 4,3 |
Lienhart | 3,0 | 1,5 |
Danso | 3,6 | 1,8 |
Pushing On: Actively stepping out of the defensive line to close down space in front of the defense or put an opponent under early pressure.
Pushing On into Pressing: Actively stepping out of the defensive line followed by directly approaching or attacking the opponent with the ball.
When it comes to blocked and intercepted balls, Alaba is second to none. With his experience and class, he anticipates many situations excellently, rarely having to engage in direct duels.
However, part of the truth is also that Alaba employs a very energy-saving playing style. While Lienhart and Danso perform 29 sprints per 90 minutes, Alaba only manages 18.2.
Lienhart also completes almost twice as many runs in the 15 to 20 km/h range.
It's interesting that the top speed measured at the World Cup for all three ÖFB center-backs is practically on the same level.
Player | Top Speed |
|---|---|
Lienhart | 32,1 km/h |
Danso | 31,8 km/h |
Alaba | 31,2 km/h |
One could now argue that the ÖFB team positions itself a little deeper than it should, in order to spare Alaba too many intensive runs in defensive recovery, and therefore cannot press as intensely as might be appropriate.
Would this potential shortcoming justify foregoing the captain's playing strength and leadership? Probably not. This is apparently how Rangnick and co. currently see it.
And Alaba is living out his childhood dream on the pitches of the USA.
A Hint to All Interested Parties
These weeks are also a hint to any interested parties who have recently wondered whether signing the four-time Champions League winner makes sense.
After his contract expires at Real Madrid, Alaba will be available on a free transfer and still wants to play in Europe.
Because in a few weeks, the constant repetition, the hamster wheel, will await again. The only question is: Where?
