Former Manchester United title winner Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Lionel Messi unfollowed Alejandro Garnacho on social media after the starlet declared his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo. The Argentine icon's longstanding rivalry with his nemesis defined an era in European football but there is no love lost between the pair.

The pair may now play on separate continents but it appears that their rivalry still remains visceral for the supposed arch enemies. Messi and Ronaldo became synonymous with Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, while competing with each other for silverware for over a decade.

The tensions that abounded between the world-famous superstars during that period still linger, with this illustrated by Messi appearing to take issue with Manchester United's emerging star Garnacho. According to ex-Old Trafford hero Ferdinand, the Inter Miami talisman unfollowed his compatriot on Instagram back in April 2022.

It was alleged by fans at the time that the Argentina captain took action after the Red Devils youngster posted a picture of Ronaldo as he declared the Portuguese legend to be the greatest player of all time. Despite Garnacho and Messi having since become international teammates, the latter has still not followed the former back.



After Garnacho's spectacular overhead kick wondergoal in his team's 3-0 win over Everton in the Premier League, he also mimicked his hero's famous 'Siu' celebration. Despite this potential stoking flames even more in the standoff with his Argentina colleague, Ferdinand praised the youngster for sticking to his guns.

Speaking on the Vibe with Five podcast, the former England mainstay said: 'You know what I like about him? He doesn't give a f***. [Alejandro] Garnacho told me that Messi unfollowed him just because he makes no secret of preferring Ronaldo."

The retired defender also reserved praise for the United attacker for his skill in executing such an improbable strike versus the Toffees. Expressing his admiration in the aftermath of the Goal of the Season contender, he even claimed that his exploits were better than Wayne Rooney's famous goal versus Manchester United in 2011.

He asserted: "Garnacho. One was off a shin pad, the other was off his boot. I'm sorry, Wazza. I was in my house in the front room with my family and we went ballistic. It was nuts.

Even my little boy, his tooth had just fell out, he fell and his tooth just got knocked out, he was trying to do overhead kicks in the living room like probably millions of little kids around the world at the time.

"That goal is better than Rooney's," he insisted. "He was running away from the goal, a bit further away from the goal, at an angle. It was unbelievable, breathtaking moment."

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1840112/lionel-messi-alejandro-garnacho-cristiano-ronaldo

Needles fight. Men ought to grow old

Wetin ordinary Instagram follow gaz do with their real life relationship? Lol...

adebayo987:
Wetin ordinary Instagram follow gaz do with their real life relationship? Lol...

If na Ronaldo showcase dat kind behaviour na wetin u for comment be dis? Double-faced hypocrite!

Pessi is so hypocritical and puerile

FAKE NEWS. Messi never followed Garnacho on Instagram. Also, Garnacho’s brother has come out to debunk this fake news. Ferdinand (the liar) who peddled the lie as come out to claim it was sarcasm on X app.

From Messi is cheating on his wife to Messi is a racist to this. Abeg, make una rest. All this blackmail won’t take anything way from him.

adebayo987:


Did Messi react with a laugh emoji comment? No!
Did Messi comment negatively? No!
He just unfollow somebody on Instagram, someone he didn't know how he followed in the first place, and someone he learns nothing from. Reacting with emoji or commenting on a post and unfollowing are different things. Secondly, he has his reasons for unfollowing like I would unfollow you if there's nothing I'm learning from you. He didn't disclose why he unfollowed a player to the public, so bloggers are just coming up with garbage to make money and you're here dancing to their tune. You're such an @sshole

U`re a hypocrite and pple with ur character aren`t always trusted. Hypocrites like u always have explanations for Messi`s shortcomings

SyrusdeHansome:


U`re a hypocrite and pple with ur character aren`t always trusted. Hypocrites like u always have explanations for Messi`s shortcomings

You're a clear evidence of a human being with an empty brain. Now I see why penaldo fans are jobless, clueless, empty headed and below failure in life. They're full of shit attacks because they're on the loosing side, no world cup (NEVER), no National or international trophy, no more than 5 balon d'or, no playmaking, zero skills at old age, no brain to overturn a loosing game, no brain behind the team, always failing.

adebayo987:
You're a clear evidence of a human being with an empty brain. Now I see why penaldo fans are jobless, clueless, empty headed and below failure in life. They're full of shit attacks because they're on the loosing side, no world cup (NEVER), no National or international trophy, no more than 5 balon d'or, no playmaking, zero skills at old age, no brain to overturn a loosing game, no brain behind the team, always failing.

Is that why you`re crying?

This news fake pass bobrisky yansh. I wonder where Ferdinand got his info from cos the Sid garnacho has come out to deny it.

Since Messi win the worldcup he has become aggressive been pride full that humility pretense is just for the fact he wanted Fifa to have pity and gives him the baloon do or , The likes of Joao Felix, Halaand, kylian Mbappe and so many young superstars pick Cristano ronaldo as their Idol I admit not even one person has come out to pick Messi as an idol cause they truly knows who the goat his now his own Country man can't hide it any longer

SyrusdeHansome:


If na Ronaldo showcase dat kind behaviour na wetin u for comment be dis? Double-faced hypocrite!

No let hatred blind you. Na fake news!

https://www.goal.com/en-ng/lists/alejandro-garnacho-brother-insists-man-utd-star-never-unfollowed-lionel-messi-rio-ferdinand-incorrect-cristiano-ronaldo/blt052689e73342a5e0

Jokerman:
Pessi is so hypocritical and puerile

so you believe this news too😳

https://www.goal.com/en-ng/lists/alejandro-garnacho-brother-insists-man-utd-star-never-unfollowed-lionel-messi-rio-ferdinand-incorrect-cristiano-ronaldo/blt052689e73342a5e0

To be sincere, i have always been a Ronaldo fans but to be sincere Messi is far better. I love Cr5 due to his Fighting spirit for goals but Messi is far far better in talent and achievement. I am now a Messi fan cause I can't be blinded with love to leave someone that create, assist, playmake, dribble and still score for me all this seams to be practically impossible for a player to top all those chat and with what I saw in Wc btw Messi and Cr7 to be sincere Messi won my heart totally. Also, inter Miami games with Messi I also saw a lot of magic moment of Messi. Cr7 greatest mistake was leaving Madrid in 2018. For what Garnacho said I don't believe him that boy like chasing clout. Messi has never done so before. Deco, Modric, Zidane all called Messi 🐐 but cr7 didn't unfollow them then why should Messi unfollow a small boy Garnacho that is still learning football from is idol. Let us move to the next page of life history cannot be cancelled wether you believe it or not. Opinion can't be chosen over record, stat and trophies never

To be sincere, i have always been a Ronaldo fans but to be sincere Messi is far better. I love Cr7 due to his Fighting spirit for goals but Messi is far far better in talent and achievement. I am now a Messi fan cause I can't be blinded with love to leave someone that create, assist, playmake, dribble and still score for me all this seams to be practically impossible for a player to top all those chat and with what I saw in Wc btw Messi and Cr7 to be sincere Messi won my heart totally. Also, inter Miami games with Messi I also saw a lot of magic moment of Messi. Cr7 greatest mistake was leaving Madrid in 2018. For what Garnacho said I don't believe him that boy like chasing clout. Messi has never done so before. Deco, Modric, Zidane all called Messi 🐐 but cr7 didn't unfollow them then why should Messi unfollow a small boy Garnacho that is still learning football from is idol. Let us move to the next page of life history cannot be cancelled wether you believe it or not. Opinion can't be chosen over record, stat and trophies never

Freshtruth:
Since Messi win the worldcup he has become aggressive been pride full that humility pretense is just for the fact he wanted Fifa to have pity and gives him the baloon do or , The likes of Joao Felix, Halaand, kylian Mbappe and so many young superstars pick Cristano ronaldo as their Idol I admit not even one person has come out to pick Messi as an idol cause they truly knows who the goat his now his own Country man can't hide it any longer

That is your opinion. 2014 Germany won Argentina in final heaven did not fall. 2022 Argentina winning France also won't change anything. 2022 will remain best world cup in history cause no controversial moment in all the knockout games and there are a lot of iconic moment in most of the games. It was a clear win just like the way Argentina won 2008 Olympic, 2021 Copa America, 2022 Finallisima. The officials @ world cup 2022 should be employed for premier league that will even be better. Garnacho calling cr7 goat doesn't mean he is goat and Deco, Zidane, Modric calling Messi goat is still opinion. Only reality will count. Messi is better than Pele and Maradona. Cr7 is better than Lewy and Ibrahimovic that is the fact. A baller is bigger than a scorer. Factos!

OJEEMAH:
so you believe this news too😳

https://www.goal.com/en-ng/lists/alejandro-garnacho-brother-insists-man-utd-star-never-unfollowed-lionel-messi-rio-ferdinand-incorrect-cristiano-ronaldo/blt052689e73342a5e0

Anything for the agenda bro 🥴