David Alaba justifies Lionel Messi vote after backlash from fans

David Alaba and Lionel Messi

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

Alaba, Benzema's team-mate at Real, faced abuse from his club's fans for putting former Barcelona star Messi first in the FIFA Best awards announced Monday. "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," Austria captain Alaba tweeted.

Also Read: Madrid's David Alaba racially abused after Messi vote at The Best FIFA Football Awards

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.

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