Lineker Reveals Ronaldo Unfollowed Him After Messi Comments

"He unfollowed me on Instagram. I'll survive." Gary Lineker, maintaining his trademark wit, encapsulated his current standing with Cristiano Ronaldo in a single line.

During an appearance on The Rest Is Football podcast with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards — both struggling to contain their laughter — Lineker acknowledged what football fans had long speculated: his consistent opinion that Lionel Messi is superior has rubbed Ronaldo the wrong way. There was no heated argument or public spat. Simply a silent unfollow and an unmistakable distance.

"I didn't offend him with any specific criticism... except for being truthful about my belief that Messi's the superior player overall," Lineker explained. He then attempted to mend fences: "Cristiano, please reach out. Let's patch things up."

The endless rivalry

With 13 Ballon d'Or trophies shared between them since 2008, two legendary careers that defined modern football and unfolded in remarkable parallel. The Messi-Ronaldo argument has cooled as both icons approach their twilight years, yet it never truly disappears — and the 2026 World Cup will undoubtedly reignite the conversation.

Ronaldo currently plies his trade at Al-Nassr, where he's compiled an impressive 25 goals and four assists across 29 appearances this campaign. The statistics remain world-class by any measure. Whether that form carries over to World Cup success with Portugal remains an open question.

The case against an MLS transfer

Bradley Wright-Phillips, who experienced Major League Soccer firsthand during his stint with New York Red Bulls, has strong opinions about where Ronaldo shouldn't land next. "I don't believe he should join MLS," he shared with Covers.com. "He's too far along in his career at this point."

His reference to Olivier Giroud's time at LAFC provides the most compelling evidence. Giroud, an accomplished striker throughout his career, struggled without proper service in Los Angeles. Wright-Phillips anticipates similar challenges for Ronaldo: "I'm concerned the same situation could unfold for Cristiano."

It's a legitimate worry. While MLS has improved dramatically, it remains a league where the consistency of creative playmaking varies considerably. Ronaldo's current style relies substantially on quality service and intelligent positioning — not the tireless work rate and explosive speed that defined his prime. Without adequate supply, the goalscoring dries up, and that's not the legacy anyone wants for him.

For the time being, Al-Nassr remains his home. The Instagram situation with Lineker? Still awaiting resolution.