Lionel Messi rejected an offer to appear on CBS Sports’ Champions League broadcast in Miami on Wednesday night because Jamie Carragher was on the show, according to host Kate Abdo.
Carragher revealed last year that Messi sent him a private message on Instagram after he criticized his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, with the Argentina legend allegedly calling him a ‘donkey’.
‘I had a little pop at [Cristiano] Ronaldo earlier in the season, didn’t think it was a great signing for [Manchester] United, then I said the example of Messi, I didn’t think Messi’s a great signing for PSG,’ the former Liverpool defender said in January 2022.
And it appears Messi is not ready to forgive him over the comments, as after revealing that CBS did in fact extend an official invite to him, Abdo claimed that Carragher was the blame for the Inter Miami attacker declining the chance to join their Champions League broadcast.
Kate Abdo revealed on CBS Sports that Jamie Carragher was the reason Lionel Messi did not appear on their ‘Destination Miami’ show
Messi, who was last seen playing for Argentina in their chaotic World Cup Qualifier against Brazil, is said to have refused to be involved in a show that Carragher was present for
Carragher revealed in 2022 that Messi had called him a ‘donkey’ for criticizing his PSG move
‘You know that we made an official invitation extended one to Inter Miami and we asked him to come on the show, do you know what the official response was,’ Abdo asked the cast.
‘Apparently Lionel Messi will not be doing any television shows that Jamie Carragher is a part of.’
At the time the crew had been discussing the age-old Messi vs Ronaldo debate, and Carragher had actually been making the argument that while Ronaldo is the greatest goalscorer of all time, Messi is the greatest player of all time.
Carragher went on to say that he considers Messi refusing to do a show because of him as a ‘claim to fame,’ before going on to ask the crowd if they would have preferred him to be involved rather than the soccer icon.
Seeing as Messi has been the talk of the soccer universe since he joined Inter Miami, it would only make sense that he would have been invited to appear on the show.
After moving to Miami over the summer he helped the franchise win its first ever MLS Leagues Cup.
Messi was last seen during the chaotic brawl that took place during Argentina’s match up against Brazil.
FIFA has sensed opened up an investigation into the incident that may result in Brazil being punished with a points reduction or being forced to play games behind closed doors.
