Gary Lineker believes Cristiano Ronaldo unfollowed him on social media because he claimed Lionel Messi was a better footballer. The Messi vs. Ronaldo debate remains one of the longest running rivalries in football.
The two world superstars have won 13 Ballon d’Or titles during their illustrious careers, with Messi winning eight and Ronaldo five. Lineker, who spent time at Barcelona during his career, has always maintained the view that Messi is better than his great rival.
Ronaldo has repeatedly claimed that his achievements exceed Messi’s. It is precisely for this reason that Lineker believes Al Nasr’s current forward has chosen to unfollow him on social media.
Speaking on football podcast The Rest, Lineker said: “Cristiano Ronaldo, he doesn’t like me very much. Nothing I said about him offended him.”
“Aside from the fact that I’m honest and overall I think Messi is a better footballer, he unfollowed me on Instagram. I’m going to get over it.”
After the comment amused co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, Lineker jokingly added: “I’ll always love him. I’ve met him many times. I know he doesn’t like me, but that’s okay. And… please, Cristiano… please call me. Let’s be friends again.”
But for Ronaldo, the question of who will reign supreme between himself and Messi is no joke. In a Spanish TV interview last February, he detailed why he thinks he is the better of the two players.
Ronaldo told La Sexta TV: “I am the best player in the history of football. I have never seen a better player than me in the history of football and I am speaking the truth from my heart.”
“I’m talking about numbers. I think I’m the most complete player that has ever existed. In my opinion, that’s who I am. I do everything well in football: my head, my free kicks, my left foot. I’m fast, I’m strong.
“One is taste. If you like Messi, Pele, Maradona, I understand and respect that, but to say Ronaldo is not perfect… I am the most complete. I have never seen anyone better than me and I say that with all my heart.”
“Who is the all-time top scorer? It’s a matter of numbers. It’s a complete stoppage,” he added, referring to Al Nasr’s 4-0 win over Al Wasl in last year’s AFC Champions League, in which he became the all-time top scorer with two goals.
“Who in history has scored the most goals with the head, left foot, penalty kicks and free kicks? I looked it up the other day and he’s in the top 10 all-time goalscorers with the left foot, not the left foot. Head, right foot and penalty kicks.”
