Piers Morgan has taken the opportunity to take a dig at Lionel Messi after the Argentina icon announced his retirement from international football.
Messi, 39, released an emotional statement to confirm his decision after suffering heartbreak on and off the pitch in recent months. After wide speculation surrounding his Argentina future, the Inter Miami star has hung up his boots for good.
It comes after La Albiceleste were defeated in the 2026 World Cup final by Spain, marking the second silver medal of Messi's career. Just weeks after that, Jorge Messi, Lionel's father, passed away aged 68.
Lionel Messi Explains Argentina Retirement
Messi posted an extremely lengthy and emotional statement to let everyone know that the Argentina vs Spain clash at MetLife Stadium on July 19 was his last time wearing the blue and white stripes.
He said he doesn't believe he has much left to give, which will have pulled on the heartstrings of millions who have been lucky enough to witness his genius for over two decades.
"I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.
"There isn’t much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot. I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give."
He leaves behind an unbelievable legacy on the international stage. Messi scored 125 times in just 207 appearances for his country. Along the way, he won Copa America twice, claimed Olympic gold and finally got his hands on the World Cup in 2022. It's a career no one can dispute.
Piers Morgan's Lionel Messi Tweet Goes Viral
Piers Morgan, however, regularly does his best to quash the claims that Messi is the greatest footballer of all time. The British journalist and media personality has previously left the Argentine great out of his all-time XI and named four players he believes were better.
In a tweet that has already received 3,000 comments on X, Morgan made sure to make it abundantly clear who his GOAT is. A well-known friend and fan of Messi's long-term rival Cristiano Ronaldo, the 61-year-old posted:
"*Lionel Messi quits international football having scored 125 goals for Argentina, the second-highest number in football history.
"*Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 146 goals for Portugal, the highest in football history."
According to Morgan, Ronaldo being the top international goalscorer ever puts the debate to bed. "This settles the GOAT debate," he said. Many would argue that Messi's team honours on the international stage outweigh Ronaldo's with Portugal, as the 39-year-old is the most decorated player in football history.
Statistics are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 31-08-26.