Attacked by Real Madrid Fans, David Alaba Says Lionel Messi Vote was Team Decision

David Alaba defended himself on Tuesday as Real Madrid followers turned on him after FIFA listed the Austrian as voting for Lionel Messi over Karim Benzema as participant of the yr.

Alaba, Benzema’s team-mate at Real, confronted abuse from his membership’s followers for placing former Barcelona star Messi first within the FIFA Best awards introduced Monday.

“The Austrian nationwide group vote for this award as a group, not me alone. Everyone within the group council is ready to vote and that’s the way it’s determined,” Austria captain Alaba tweeted.

Messi, who led Argentina to victory in the World Cup, romped away with the award on Monday, with Kylian Mbappe of France second and Benzema, a French player who missed the World Cup, a distant third.

FIFA released a list of the top three choices by each national team captain and coach.

Alaba was listed as putting Benzema second.

“Everyone knows, especially Karim, how much I admire him and his performances,” tweeted Alaba. “I’ve usually stated that for me he’s one of the best striker on the earth, and that’s nonetheless the case. Without doubt.”

Another Real Madrid player, Luka Modric, the captain of Croatia, was listed as putting Benzema first and Messi second.

As Argentina captain, Messi was listed as voting for one Paris Saint-Germain team-mate, Neymar, first and another, Mbappe second.

Brazil, captained by former PSG player Thiago Silva, voted for Neymar first, followed by Messi.

France, captained by Tottenham,’s Hugo Lloris, voted for Mbappe followed by another compatriot Benzema, with Messi third.

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