Rio Ferdinand has humorously suggested that Lionel Messi unfollowed Alejandro Garnacho because the young star is a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo. The 19-year-old Garnacho celebrated his stunning overhead kick against Everton on Saturday with Ronaldo’s signature move, fueling Ferdinand’s jest on the Vibe With Five podcast.

Ferdinand quipped, “You know what I like about him? He doesn’t give a f***. Garnacho told me Messi unfollowed him just because he openly prefers Ronaldo. He’s straight-up about it—‘I’m a Ronaldo guy’. Who’s the GOAT? Ronaldo. Even when he’s with Argentina.”

The playful remark comes amidst speculation that Messi unfollowed Garnacho in 2022 after the latter praised Ronaldo as the greatest of all time. This was despite Garnacho previously sharing a photo with Messi, calling him his “idol.”

Garnacho’s brother Roberto has since refuted Ferdinand’s claim, stating on Twitter that Messi “never followed him” and that Garnacho admires both football legends.

Despite following Messi, Garnacho remains without a follow from the Argentine star. The long-standing rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi continues to spark conversations among fans and pundits alike.