Piers Morgan SLAMS BBC pundits for ‘fan-girling’ over Lionel Messi

Piers Morgan SLAMS BBC pundits for ‘fan-girling’ over Lionel Messi after the forward fired Argentina to the World Cup quarter-final in his 1,000TH game, branding the praise from Gary Lineker and Co ‘excruciatingly obsequious’

Piers Morgan has ripped into the BBC for ‘fan-girling’ over Lionel Messi after the forward scored his 789th career goal in his 1000th appearance in professional football for Argentina on Saturday.

Messi was praised by pundits Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Pablo Zabaleta and Rio Ferdinand after helping Argentina to the quarter-finals of what is almost certain to be his last World Cup, but Morgan didn’t take too kindly to the words on Twitter.

Morgan, who famously has a strong relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo and conducted the Portugal star’s recent bombshell reveal-all interview against Manchester United, branded the praise ‘excruciatingly obsequious’ as Lineker and Co commended Messi on air.

Piers Morgan has criticised the BBC’s praise for Lionel Messi after his latest goal for Argentina

Gary Lineker was among the pundits to heap praise on the forward, who scored his 789th professional goal in his 1000th game

Gary Lineker was among the pundits to heap praise on the forward, who scored his 789th professional goal in his 1000th game

Morgan famously has a close relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, a footballing rival of Messi

Morgan famously has a close relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo, a footballing rival of Messi

He posted: ‘The relentless Messi fan-girling by the whole BBC punditry team is getting excruciatingly obsequious. Getting worried one of them might have an “accident” in the studio. 

‘Calm yourselves, lads. He had a good game against an average side. See how he does against a good team.’

Messi netted Argentina’s opening goal of the game in their 2-1 over Australia with an neat finish Ferdinand branded ‘special’.

Lineker, who has regularly made his admiration for Messi known, responded to Morgan, posting: ‘Good to see you emerge briefly from deep inside the bowels of Ronaldo to express your opinion.’

The forward is the joint leading goalscorer at the World Cup so far, with three goals to his name.

Messi's fine finish against Australia helped Argentina into the last eight of the World Cup

Messi’s fine finish against Australia helped Argentina into the last eight of the World Cup

His Argentina side have bounced back from a shock opening game defeat by Saudi Arabia to win their last three matches and book a tie against Holland in the last eight next week.

Twitter users were quick to slate Morgan, like Lineker, pointing out his supposed hypocrisy given his love for Ronaldo.

‘You were literally praising Ronaldo on Twitter for a goal he didn’t even score’, said one user.

‘And the award for the most ironic tweet ever goes to…’ added another.

Morgan recently carried out a bizarre bombshell tell-all interview against Manchester United with Ronaldo

Morgan recently carried out a bizarre bombshell tell-all interview against Manchester United with Ronaldo

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