MONDAY FIGHT FOOTBALL

Jamie Carragher and Gary Lineker in heated row over Sky Sports Monday Night Football’s Messi-Ronaldo stats graphic

JAMIE CARRAGHER came out swinging on Twitter as he became embroiled in an online spat with Gary Lineker.

The exchange occurred after fans slammed Sky Sports for removing Lionel Messi's Champions League AND Copa America honours as Gary Neville hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as the GOAT.

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Jamie Carragher has become embroiled in a Twitter spat with Gary LinekerCredit: Sky Sports
MOTD host Lineker joined in the criticism after Sky Sports messed up a graphic regarding what Lionel Messi had wonCredit: BBC

The pundit and his Monday Night Football co-host Carragher were dragged into the age-old debate regarding the two iconic football figures.

But viewers hit out at the error-strewn graphic Sky displayed on their Monday Night Football coverage.

Comparing the pair's career achievements, it said Messi had zero international titles to his name.

That is despite the fact the Paris Saint-Germain forward led Argentina to the Copa America crown THIS summer.

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To make matters worse, the graphic suggested Messi had three Champions League winner's medals - clearly forgetting one of his triumphs in 2006, 2009, 2011 or 2015.

And Messi supporters were further aggrieved to see Ronaldo was credited with two international honours - therefore counting the inaugural Uefa Nations League as a major title for Portugal.

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As Twitter exploded over the error, BBC’s Match of the Day presenter Lineker joined in by sharing a snap of Sky’s graphic and sarcastically writing: “To be fair, it’s such a long time since Messi led Argentina to victory in Copa America, they’re entitled to forget it.”

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He followed that up by tweeting: “Also 4 Champions Leagues not 3.”

Carragher spotted his remarks and replied: “We made a mistake on a graphic over Messi’s international honours.

“It happens a lot on MOTD. Check Messi’s record in 2006 in the CL, he didn’t play 1 min after 1st KO round, so we counted it as 3.

"We don’t have autocue on MNF so I’m sure you’d also make a mistake now & again.”

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Lineker, 60, replied: “Yes, we do, and when they happen, they’re quite rightly pointed out.”

That led to Carragher then offering an invite for him to appear on an upcoming episode of Monday Night Football.

Sky Sports omitted two of Lionel Messi's biggest career achievements off his honours listCredit: Sky Sports

He wrote back: “Not by anyone on MNF, as we realise it’s not easy. I know you spend the majority of your time on twitter but just look after MOTD & we’ll do the same on MNF.

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“If you ever want to come on with no autocue you’re welcome.”

Lineker then responded with: “You seem to be picking fights with everybody these days. I hope you’re alright, Jamie.”

Carragher replied: “I’m fine Gary, just sticking up for our stats guy. Appreciate your concern.”

To which Lineker wrote back, along with a thumbs up emoji: “Good man.”

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Neville and sparring partner Jamie Carragher were analysing Ronaldo's two-goal return for Manchester United ahead of Everton vs Burnley.

And the Portuguese superstar's former team-mate said: “I just feel with the international goals records, the Champions Leagues and the variety of goals that he’s scored, it takes me to think that he is the greatest football player of all time.

“He does make the [United] team better… he makes them more likely to win the title than three weeks ago. Something inside me tells me that I don’t think he’ll quite make them the team that will make them win the title this season.”

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Carragher was having none of it though as he fired back: “No one is not a huge fan of Ronaldo or Messi. Ronaldo is not the greatest player of all time.

“It doesn’t matter how a ball goes in the net… Messi’s got a better goal record than Ronaldo. He’s also a playmaker, Messi can run a game – Ronaldo can’t.

“Ronaldo can maybe do things that Messi can’t but Messi takes you to a place where you can’t actually believe what you’re seeing.

“Ronaldo does things other players can do… Messi does things we’ve never seen before.”

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LINEKER AND CARRAGHER’S EXCHANGE

Here’s what was said in full on Twitter:

Lineker: “To be fair, it’s such a long time since Messi led Argentina to victory in Copa America, they’re entitled to forget it.”

Lineker: “Also 4 Champions Leagues not 3.”

Carragher: “We made a mistake on a graphic over Messi’s international honours. It happens a lot on MOTD. Check Messi’s record in 2006 in the CL, he didn’t play 1 min after 1st KO round, so we counted it as 3. We don’t have autocue on MNF so I’m sure you’d also make a mistake now & again.”

Lineker: “Yes, we do, and when they happen, they’re quite rightly pointed out.”

Carragher: “Not by anyone on MNF, as we realise it’s not easy. I know you spend the majority of your time on twitter but just look after MOTD & we’ll do the same on MNF. If you ever want to come on with no autocue you’re welcome.”

Lineker: “You seem to be picking fights with everybody these days. I hope you’re alright, Jamie.”

Carragher: “I’m fine Gary, just sticking up for our stats guy. Appreciate your concern.”

Lineker: “Good man.”

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