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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Jake Bayliss

'Called me a donkey' - Lionel Messi sent brutal message to Jamie Carragher after Cristiano Ronaldo claim

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher revealed Lionel Messi called him “a donkey” after criticising his move to PSG.

Messi made the move to Paris in the summer of 2021 after Barcelona were unable to register their talisman due to financial issues.

The Argentine had a disappointing first season in the French capital, but has kicked on in the current domestic campaign and has excelled for Argentina at the Qatar World Cup.

Carragher claimed that Messi took issue with his opinion of performances in France, while discussing his Team of the Year on Friday Night Football.

READ MORE: Jamie Carragher fires ruthless dig at Gary Neville over Lionel Messi comment

READ MORE: Enzo Fernandez transfer stance made clear by Benfica already amid Liverpool links

After highlighting that the icon was missing from Carragher’s select XI, Gary Neville said: “He’s not happy with you Messi, is he?”

Carragher then replied, “No, he’s not happy with me at all”, before going on to explain what had happened between the pair.

Carra said: “I had a little pop at Ronaldo early in the season, I didn’t think it was a great signing for United.

"And I said the example of Messi, I didn’t think Messi was a great signing for PSG.

“It was on Monday Night Football and I got a private message on Instagram. From the man himself, I will not be showing private messages but he basically called me a donkey!”

The ex-Red continued: “He watches Monday Night Football, so hopefully he’s watching Friday Night Football as well, because Lionel I absolutely love you.

“The greatest player of all time and compared to you I was a donkey - I accept that - but you’re not getting in this team. You haven’t played well enough, even if you did win the Copa America in the summer. It’s not enough to leave my man, Mohamed Salah, out.”

Carragher's Sky Sports colleague Gary Neville was quick to remind Carragher of the exchange after the former Liverpool man aimed a light-hearted jab at the ex-Manchester United defender on Saturday.

Neville was critical of Messi's first-half performance in Argentina's clash with Mexico at the World Cup, only for the forward to produce a goal and an assist after the break to inspire the Albiceleste to a 2-0 win.

A version of this article was initially published in January 2022.

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