Lineker Reveals Ronaldo Instagram Unfollow Over Messi Remarks

"He unfollowed me on Instagram. I'll survive." With trademark British wit, Gary Lineker summed up his current standing with Cristiano Ronaldo in a single sentence.

During an appearance on The Rest Is Football podcast with co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards — both reportedly struggling to contain their laughter — Lineker addressed what many football fans had already noticed: his public stance that Lionel Messi edges out Ronaldo as the superior player hasn't exactly strengthened their friendship. There was no dramatic confrontation or heated exchange. Simply a quiet click of the unfollow button and an unmistakable cooling of relations.

"I didn't offend him with any direct criticism... just by being truthful and stating that I believe Messi's the better footballer overall," Lineker explained. He then offered something of a peace offering: "Cristiano, please reach out. Let's patch things up."

The rivalry that refuses to fade

Between them, they've claimed thirteen Ballon d'Or trophies since 2008. Two extraordinary careers that defined an entire generation of the beautiful game, running remarkably parallel throughout. While the Messi versus Ronaldo conversation has quieted somewhat as both legends approach their twilight years, it refuses to disappear completely — and the upcoming 2026 World Cup will almost certainly reignite the flames.

Ronaldo currently plies his trade at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, where he's contributed an impressive 25 goals and four assists across 29 appearances this campaign. By virtually any measure, those numbers remain world-class. Whether that form carries through to meaningful World Cup contributions for Portugal remains an open question.

Why Major League Soccer isn't the answer

Bradley Wright-Phillips, who gained extensive MLS experience during his stint with New York Red Bulls, has strong opinions about where Ronaldo shouldn't land next. "I don't want to see him in MLS," he told Covers.com. "He's too far along in his career at this point."

His reference to Olivier Giroud's struggles at LAFC provides the most compelling part of his reasoning. Giroud, an accomplished striker throughout most of his professional career, appeared disconnected without consistent quality service in Los Angeles. Wright-Phillips envisions a similar scenario for Ronaldo: "I'd be concerned the same thing could happen to Cristiano."

It's a legitimate worry. While MLS has evolved significantly, it remains a competition where the consistency of attacking service varies considerably. Ronaldo's current playing style relies predominantly on intelligent positioning and quality delivery — not the tireless work rate and explosive speed that characterized his prime years. Without proper support, the goals stop coming, and that's hardly the legacy anyone wants for him.

For the immediate future, Al-Nassr continues to be his home. As for the Instagram situation with Lineker? That apparently remains unresolved.