Rio Ferdinand explains why Lionel Messi unfollowed Alejandro Garnacho - and Cristiano Ronaldo will love the reason

Alejandro Garnacho claims Lionel Messi unfollowed him on social media because he called Cristiano Ronaldo the greatest of all time.

That is according to Rio Ferdinand, who revealed the details of a private chat with the Argentine following his Manchester United wondergoal. Garnacho sent shockwaves throughout the footballing world on Sunday with a spectacular overhead kick against Everton.

Many have already written off the Premier League’s Goal of the Season award, with some even suggesting the strike is the best in the competition’s history. The goal stunned Goodison Park into silence just three minutes into what was expected to be a cauldron-like atmosphere on Merseyside.

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While the strike was eulogised globally, it was not good enough for Garnacho to earn a refollow from compatriot Messi. Garnacho posted an Instagram picture in April 2022 - just months before Argentina’s World Cup heroics - calling his then-club teammate the best to ever do it. Ferdinand has claimed this is why Messi spat his dummy out and hit the unfollow button.

“You know what I like about him?” he told his Vibe with Five podcast. “He doesn't give a f***. Garnacho told me Messi unfollowed him just because he makes no secret of preferring Ronaldo. He comes out, doesn't care, ‘I'm a Ronaldo man’. Who's the GOAT? Ronaldo. (Even) when he's in the Argentina squad.”

Debate has also raged about whether Garnacho’s strike was better than Wayne Rooney’s spectacular late winner against Manchester City in February 2011. Ferdinand, who missed that game due to injury, believes the answer is clear.

“Garnacho,” he said when asked whose