Alaba explains why he chose Messi ahead of Benzema for FIFA Best award

Lionel Messi defeated 

and Kylian Mbappe and won the FIFA Best Men's Player award on Monday.

Following the ceremony,

 defender

received criticism and even racist abuse on social media after the votes became public, and it was revealed that he voted for Messi first instead of his teammate Benzema.

Alaba posted a message on his social media on Tuesday and explained why he didn’t vote for Benzema during the FIFA The Best voting process.

"Regarding FIFA The Best Award: The Austrian national team vote for this award as a team, not me alone,"

he wrote.

"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 and I have often said that for me he is the best striker in the world, and that is still the case. Without doubt.”

Messi has scored 16 goals and provided 12 assists for PSG this season. He also scored seven goals and provided three assists at the 2022 World Cup and won the Golden Ball award, but Benzema also won the Ballon d’Or in October and many think he deserved to win the FIFA Best Men's Player award ahead of Messi.

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