Gary Lineker and Piers Morgan were involved in a Twitter spat about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday night.Both Messi and Ronaldo have endured frustrating seasons with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, respectively.Messi, 34, has failed to produce his best form since moving to PSG from Barcelona last summer. In 18 league appearances, the seven-time Ballon dâOr winner has scored just two goals. He was even booed by PSGâs fans last weekend following the clubâs Champions League elimination against Real Madrid.Ronaldo, who turned 37 last month, has enjoyed a better campaign with Man Utd after completing an emotional return to Old Trafford at the end of last summerâs transfer window.In 24 Premier League matches, Ronaldo has scored 12 goals. The legendary Portuguese forward has netted 18 goals in all competitions for the Red Devils this term.However, even Ronaldo was unable to prevent United losing to Atletico Madrid over two legs in the Champions League.MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 15: Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United complains to Referee Slavko Vincic during the UEFA Champions League Round Of Sixteen Leg Two match between Manchester United and Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford on March 15, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Sir Alex Ferguson's Ronaldo vs Messi opinion from 2015
Just before Man Utdâs Round of 16 second leg against Atletico kicked off, Lineker read Sir Alex Fergusonâs opinion on the age-old Ronaldo vs Messi debate.
Back in April 2015, Ferguson (who coached Ronaldo for six years) said: âPeople say who is the best player in the world? And plenty of people quite rightly say Messi â you canât dispute that opinion.
âBut Ronaldo could play for Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, Doncaster Rovers⦠anyone, and score a hat-trick in a game.
âIâm not sure Messi could do it.
âRonaldoâs got two feet, heâs quick, great in the air, heâs brave â Messiâs brave, of course.
âI think Messiâs a Barcelona player.â
Lineker and Morgan's Twitter spat over Messi and Ronaldo
Lineker tweeted: âThis is nonsensical. I know we donât tend to look beyond these shores very much, and Iâm sure Sir Alex is being supportive of one of his own, but even as recently as this summer, Messi almost single-handedly won the Copa America for Argentina. Theyâre both greats.â
Piers Morgan, who firmly believes that Ronaldo is the greatest footballer in history, replied: âItâs perfectly sensical, Jugs. Messiâs clearly lost his magic since leaving Barca. Ronaldoâs kept it at many clubs/countries incl back at United now. Thatâs why heâs the GOAT.â
Lineker responded: âHeâs the GOAT now? So youâre judging 2 of the greatest players of all-time on how they perform in their mid thirties when theyâre both past their best. I donât care who you or anyone else thinks is better, itâs not important, but a lack of respect for either is totally unwarranted.â
Morgan then said: âFergie wasnât disrespectful, he just said Messi wouldnât play as well outside of his Barcelona comfort zone, and as we can all now see, he doesnât.â
To which Lineker responded: âHeâs nearly 35. What on earth do you expect. Itâs absurd and disrespectful to suggest that Messi in his prime couldnât perform wondrously in any league in the world.â
Morgan added: âRonaldoâs 37 and still banging in wondrous hat-tricks. Messiâs 3yrs younger & fading faster than my taste buds after covid - because heâs not got his Barca support blanket. The GOAT debate is over - itâs Cristiano.â
Lineker said: âPlayers will always be judged on their prime years. By your criteria Maradona would be considered average. I know youâre always texting Ronaldo and desperately want him to like you, but you can do that without disrespecting other greats.â
Morgan replied: âOoooohhhh, someoneâs getting touchy! Itâs not my fault Ronaldoâs playing so much better than Messi.. ps For the record, I think Maradonaâs the 2nd best player ever - after Cristiano.â
Lineker said: âWatching the game, I think I may have just got a glimpse of your feet hanging from Cristianoâs shorts.â
Morgan responded: âMate, when it comes to sycophantic obsequious a***-licking, your fangirl worship of Messi even as he fades into mediocrity is in a class of its own!â
Lineker then responded with a tweet from 2019 where Morgan praised Ronaldoâs abs.
The Messi vs Ronaldo debate will never be settled
In decades to come, football fans will still be arguing over which of the two players was better.
But with time running out for both superstars before they hang up their boots, itâs surely more important that we simply enjoy them both.
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - JANUARY 12: FIFA Ballon d'Or nominees Lionel Messi of Argentina and FC Barcelona (L) and Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Real Madrid smile during the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala 2014 at the Kongresshaus on January 12, 2015 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images)
Man Utd's season over? (Football Terrace)
Can you get full marks on our Champions League quiz?