The growing tension between Jamie Carragher and Mohamed Salah has unexpectedly brought an old and controversial chapter back into the spotlight—one that involves Lionel Messi.
As Carragher’s public disagreement with the Liverpool star continues to dominate headlines, past remarks made by the former Reds defender have resurfaced, reigniting discussions about his strained relationship with some of football’s biggest names. Among them, Messi’s reaction to Carragher years earlier has once again become a talking point.
The Spark: Carragher’s Criticism of Mohamed Salah
Carragher’s name has trended heavily following his blunt criticism of Salah, sparked by the Egyptian forward’s recent interview in which he admitted feeling “sacrificed” by the club. Salah made the comments after being benched and left out of the starting lineup in a crucial UEFA Champions League match against Inter Milan.
Although Salah returned to the squad in the subsequent Premier League fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion, he featured only as a substitute. The situation fueled speculation about his standing at Liverpool and opened the door for strong opinions from pundits.
Carragher did not soften his stance. Instead, he doubled down, engaging in a heated debate alongside Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Ian Wright, and Jill Scott during a recording of The Overlap.
The exchange quickly went viral, cementing the Carragher–Salah row as one of the most talked-about pundit-player clashes of the season.
Not the First Clash: Carragher’s History with Star Players
However, the conflict with Salah is far from Carragher’s first high-profile disagreement with an elite footballer. During his career as a television analyst, Carragher has built a reputation for blunt honesty—an approach that has not always been welcomed by the game’s biggest stars.
One of the most striking examples dates back to 2022 and involves none other than Lionel Messi.
When Messi Called Carragher a “Donkey”
The story first came to light when Carragher was working as an analyst on Monday Night Football. During a live broadcast, Carragher revealed that Messi had personally contacted him via social media.
The message followed Carragher’s public claim that Messi’s move to Paris Saint-Germain was not a smart decision. Carragher even compared the transfer to Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United, which he also described as a questionable move from a sporting perspective.
According to Carragher, the comments did not sit well with Messi.
“It was on Monday Night Football, and I received a private message on Instagram—from the man himself,” Carragher recalled.
“I won’t show the message, but essentially, he called me a ‘donkey.’”
The revelation stunned viewers and quickly spread across social media, adding another layer to Carragher’s reputation as a pundit unafraid to challenge football royalty.
Messi’s Alleged Refusal to Share a Studio with Carragher
Carragher later expanded on the story while appearing on CBS Sports’ Champions League coverage. He explained that Messi’s message arrived after Carragher suggested that the trio of Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappé would struggle to win the Champions League together at PSG.
Initially, Carragher assumed the message came from a fake account. He even replied after Messi won his eighth Ballon d’Or the following night—but never received a response.
The relationship reportedly deteriorated further. When both were in Miami, Messi allegedly refused to appear on a CBS television segment that also featured Carragher.
Host Kate Abdo later addressed the situation on air.
“As you know, we sent an official invitation to Inter Miami asking Lionel Messi to join the show,” Abdo explained. “Do you know what the official response was? Lionel Messi will not appear on any television program involving Jamie Carragher.”
The statement added fuel to the narrative that Carragher’s outspoken opinions had crossed from debate into personal friction.
A Familiar Pattern: The Ronaldo Reaction
Messi is not the only global icon to have reacted coldly to Carragher’s commentary. In 2022, after Carragher claimed Manchester United would be better off without Cristiano Ronaldo, cameras caught an awkward moment.
Ronaldo was seen greeting Gary Neville and Roy Keane warmly before pointedly ignoring Carragher. The snub was subtle but unmistakable—and quickly interpreted as another sign of Carragher’s strained relationships with star players.
The Cost of Brutal Honesty
The renewed attention on Carragher’s past clashes, sparked by his dispute with Mohamed Salah, highlights a recurring theme in modern football punditry: the fine line between honest analysis and personal offense.
Carragher’s approach has earned him respect for transparency and tactical insight. At the same time, it has repeatedly placed him at odds with players unaccustomed to such public criticism.
As the Carragher–Salah debate continues to unfold, the resurfacing of his history with Messi and Ronaldo serves as a reminder that strong opinions often come with lasting consequences. Whether seen as fearless honesty or unnecessary provocation, Carragher’s voice remains one of the most influential—and divisive—in football media today.
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