Ronaldo cut off Gary Lineker after presenter named Messi the better footballer

Cristiano Ronaldo severed contact with Gary Lineker after the former England striker publicly declared Lionel Messi the better footballer, Lineker revealed on The Louis Theroux Podcast.

Lineker, who spent years as the face of BBC’s football coverage, said the pair had previously enjoyed a cordial relationship before his stance on the sport’s most debated rivalry cost him Ronaldo’s goodwill. “We used to get on all right,” Lineker said. “And then suddenly, you know, I was interviewed or something and asked, ‘Who’s a better player?’ Well, Messi. And then he doesn’t like you anymore then.”

The former Barcelona forward was careful to frame his position as admiration for both men rather than a dismissal of Ronaldo’s achievements. “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 said.

“But 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. The fact that he’s actually put in the same breath as Messi, and lots of people do make the comparison, is a huge compliment to him, really, of what he’s achieved. Because he hasn’t got the ability that Messi has. No one has. But it’s not an insult to Ronaldo to say that.”

Lineker also reflected on Messi’s place in the broader pantheon of the sport, arguing the Inter Miami forward edges even Diego Maradona — a player Lineker once considered untouchable — by virtue of his longevity. “I never thought I’d see a better player than Diego,” he said. “He might not necessarily be a better player, but he’s lived better therefore he has had greater longevity. And I think you have to take that into account.”

Both Ronaldo and Messi are set to appear at the 2026 World Cup, which would mark a sixth tournament appearance for each player — a fitting final chapter to a rivalry that has defined football for the better part of two decades.