The simmering rivalry between football pundits Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand has violently boiled over once more, sparked by the latter's hosting duties at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw.
The spark that lit the fire
Liverpool legend Carragher took a brutal swipe at his former England teammate on social media this week. He responded to a clip of Ferdinand, who was hosting the prestigious draw, addressing concerns over soaring ticket prices and a proposed 'dynamic pricing' system.
In the clip, the ex-Manchester United defender described himself as "a man of the people", stating he came from a background where accessibility was crucial. He suggested FIFA were working to ensure the elite product on the pitch justified the cost for fans.
Carragher's reply was succinct and cutting: three laughing-face emojis followed by three money-bag emojis, a clear accusation of hypocrisy aimed at Ferdinand's considerable personal wealth. By the next morning, Ferdinand had fired back, posting a photo of himself holding a newspaper with a doctored front page featuring his face and the headline "Man of the People", while playfully tagging Carragher.
A feud with a long and bitter history
This latest spat is merely the newest chapter in a years-long, very public conflict between the two Premier League icons. Their disagreements have played out on live television, podcasts, and across social media platforms.
One major flashpoint occurred in February 2025 over Carragher's controversial comments about the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Carragher argued the tournament was not a "major" competition in the same vein as the European Championships, suggesting it wouldn't significantly boost a player's Ballon d'Or credentials.
Ferdinand publicly rejected this view, calling it an "ignorant thought process" and highlighting the immense importance of AFCON to African football legends. Carragher hit back on Instagram, labelling Ferdinand a "clown" and accusing him of misrepresentation.
The war of words continued just days later when Ferdinand piled on after tennis star Boris Becker called Carragher "uninformed" about Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany. Ferdinand jibed: "Boris… he's having a bad couple weeks. Let him off."
From Van Dijk digs to Saudi accusations
The animosity runs deeper than recent events. A year earlier, during a Liverpool match, Carragher branded Ferdinand a "poor man's Virgil van Dijk" and declared the Dutchman the Premier League's greatest-ever centre-back by a mile, excluding Ferdinand from the debate.
They have also clashed over the ethical implications of Saudi Arabia's investment in football. On his FIVE podcast, Ferdinand called out Carragher for not criticising his former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard's move to manage Al-Ettifaq, implying hypocrisy.
Carragher countered by accusing Ferdinand of avoiding criticism of Qatar during the 2022 World Cup, suggesting he was protecting a paymaster. "I knew you'd be all over it," Carragher wrote on X, "like you were in Qatar!"
The feud even has roots in 2021, when Ferdinand said he had to "mute" Carragher whenever the former defender, who never won a league title, spoke about winning the Premier League. Carragher's retort was to point out Ferdinand's lack of trophies without Sir Alex Ferguson and his attempted move to Chelsea.
No signs of a truce
This enduring conflict shows no sign of abating. Both men are now entrenched as major media figures, and their clashing personalities and loyalties – Liverpool vs. Manchester United – provide constant fuel. The latest exchange over the 2026 World Cup draw proves that any minor incident can reignite the full-blown row, much to the fascination of football fans who follow their every barbed comment.
