Gary Lineker has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer on speaking terms with him after the former BBC host publicly stated that Lionel Messi is the better footballer. The two sporting icons are set to compete in the 2026 World Cup, marking their sixth appearance at the tournament.
Lineker's Comments Spark Rift
Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Lineker, a former Barcelona and England striker, discussed the 15-year dominance of Messi and Ronaldo at the top of the game. He admitted he has immense admiration for Ronaldo's achievements but maintained his belief that Messi possesses superior natural ability.
Lineker said: "I always feel bad because people have a go at me, saying 'oh, you don't like Ronaldo.' It's not that I don't like Ronaldo. I absolutely think he's an incredible footballer, but there's no argument about who is the better footballer. Anyone that understands the game will see that."
He added: "I've got so much admiration for Cristiano because he's so driven and his career has been so successful and he's scored so many goals. In many eras, he'd be the best player of his time. But the fact that he's put in the same breath as Messi is a huge compliment to him. He hasn't got the ability that Messi has. No one has. It's not an insult to Ronaldo to say that."
Ronaldo's Reaction
When asked whether his views annoy others, Lineker claimed that his backing of Messi led to Ronaldo cutting ties with him. "Ronaldo gets annoyed, he doesn't speak to me anymore. We used to get on all right. And then suddenly, I was interviewed and asked, 'Who's a better player?' Well, Messi. And then he doesn't like you anymore," Lineker explained.
Describing Messi as the greatest player of his lifetime, Lineker cited the Argentine's longevity as an advantage over Diego Maradona. "I never thought I'd see a better player than Diego. He might not necessarily be a better player, but he's lived better, therefore he has had greater longevity. I just can't explain how good Messi is. He does four or five things in a game that I wouldn't have done in my entire career. Take away all the goals and dribbles, his passing and vision are just bizarre. He's given me 20 years of joy watching him."
World Cup 2026
The 2026 World Cup is expected to be the last for both Messi and Ronaldo. Messi enters as the defending champion, while Ronaldo hopes to capture the only major honour missing from his illustrious career.
