Piers Morgan has responded to spoof claims he was caught shouting 'Ronaldo is still the GOAT' after bookmaker Paddy Power posted a viral skit poking fun at the 54-year-old.
Ronaldo super-fan Morgan had to watch arch-rival Lionel Messi lift the World Cup for Argentina last night after a thrilling final in Qatar.
Messi scored twice - and then netted his penalty - as Argentina downed France 4-2 in the shootout after the match finished 3-3 following extra-time.
READ MORE: Dublin GAA fan spotted blending in with Argentina fans at World Cup final
The result prompted mischievous bookmaker Paddy Power to release a fake news report on social video seconds after the World Cup was lifted, poking fun at Morgan and getting viewed more than 1.5million times in the process.
The piece sees a news reporter in a TV studio address the screen and explain: "Emergency services are describing a call-out to the home of TV personality Piers Morgan as a ‘false alarm’.
"Neighbours called the police to the property when they heard what they described as ‘a man in distress’ shortly after the World Cup final ended. But it turned out it was just a grown man crying about a footballer."
The report then cuts to a 'constable from Scotland Yard' who explains: "After officers forced down the door at the said address, first responders found the 54-year-old celebrity dressed in a full Portugal kit, and the noises were in fact Mr Morgan sobbing like a child while shouting ‘Ronaldo is still the real GOAT’."
The news report then cuts back to the host, who adds: "A quick update on our main story before we leave: Piers Morgan has now stopped crying uncontrollably, and has just started tweeting about Meghan and Harry again. Good evening."
The video, the latest in a line of comedy sketches from the social media super-giant, has been shared more than 7,000 times - including Morgan himself.
The Talk Talk TV host responded with two crying laughing emojis within minutes of the content being shared by Paddy Power on Twitter, while other follows piled in with their own Ronaldo barbs.
Scores of users replied with their own photoshopped pictures of Messi taunting Ronaldo and the former GMB man.
Others, meanwhile, fought Piers' corner.
One replied: "Fair play @piersmorgan for taking this on the chin. The ability to take a joke at ones expense is a rarity these days".
While another added: "Cheers to Piers, for gracefully taking banter. Unlike some of his counterparts."
While it was joy for Messi, Ronaldo's tournament ended with a whimper at the quarter-final stage.
The 37-year-old forward was in tears as he walked back to the dressing room after a 1-0 quarter-final loss to Morocco.
In that, Ronaldo had to make do with starting as a substitute, having also come off the bench in the last-16 win against Switzerland.
"To win a World Cup for Portugal was the biggest and most ambitious dream of my career," he wrote on social media. "Unfortunately, [Saturday] the dream ended."
The Portugal manager Fernando Santos' departure from the job was announced days later in a statement from the Portuguese Football Federation.
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