Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher claims Lionel Messi called him a “donkey” after he said earlier this season that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner would not be a “great signing” for Paris Saint-Germain.

This obviously did not sit well with the Argentine, who wasted no time in expressing his displeasure to the Sky Sports commentator.

“It was on Monday Night Football, and I got a private message on Instagram,” Jamie Carragher recalled on Friday Night Football following Watford’s 0-3 loss to Norwich at Vicarage Road.

“From the man himself (Messi). I will not be showing private messages but he basically called me a donkey.”

As Carragher’s co-commentator Gary Neville and presenter Dave Jones busted out in laughter, the former Liverpool defender continued:

“He [Messi] watches Monday Night Football so hopefully, he’s watching Friday Night Football as well because Lionel, I absolutely love you

“Greatest player of all time and compared to you I was a donkey. You know, I accept that, but you’re not getting in this team.

“You haven’t played well enough, even if you did win the Copa America in the summer. It’s not enough to leave my man Mo Salah out the team.”

When Jones asked them to select their own EA Sports FIFA Team of the Year for 2021, Carragher and Neville left out Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

“No, no Messi,” stated the 2005 Champions League champion on his squad choice.

“I mean we had that debate at the start of the season, Ronaldo or Messi. I was the Messi man, he [Neville] was Ronaldo but there’s no place in either team for them.”

Messi became a free agent because Barcelona refused to register his contract with LaLiga.

However, the 34-year-old has struggled to make an impact in Ligue 1, scoring just once for PSG since joining.