WATCH: David Alaba mentions a completely unexpected name alongside Ronaldo and Messi

The Ballon d'Or this year is going to be a tight one.

You've got Lionel Messi, who had another terrific year for Barcelona. And you've got Cristiano Ronaldo who, despite missing most of the final, played a crucial role in Portugal's Euro 2016 triumph. And of course you have Theo Walcott. OK, Theo Walcott is not actually on the level of the two La Liga superstars in the estimation of most rational-thinking adults. But, apparently, David Alaba is in the minority here as he, rather bizarrely, has mentioned Walcott's name in the same breath as Messi and Ronaldo.

Messi, Ronaldo ... Walcott? @FCBayern's David Alaba, Javi Martinez on the toughest players they've had to defendhttps://t.co/nxP7cOqjgA

— Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) August 4, 2016

Asked to reveal the toughest opponents he has faced, the Bayern Munich left back slipped the Arsenal forward right in behind the best two players in the world right now... thinking we wouldn't notice. And yes, we did re-watch three times to make sure we weren't mishearing "Neymar".