Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are undoubtedly two of the greatest footballers of this generation. The debate as to who is better between the two has raged on for several years.Piers Morgan and Gary Lineker engaged in an ugly spat on Twitter while choosing between the two attacking greats. Lineker is famously a Messi fan, while Morgan has publicly backed Ronaldo as the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) plenty of times.The exchange between Lineker and Morgan started when the former England international hit out at Sir Alex Ferguson's claims about Messi not being able to perform outside of Barcelona.Gary Lineker 💙💛@GaryLinekerThis is nonsensical. I know we don’t tend to look beyond these shores very much, and I’m sure Sir Alex is being supportive of one of his own, but even as recently as this summer, Messi almost single-handedly won the Copa America for Argentina. They’re both greats. twitter.com/sportbible/sta…SPORTbible@sportbibleSir Alex Ferguson: “Cristiano Ronaldo could play for Millwall, QPR, Doncaster Rovers… anyone, and score a hat-trick in one game. I'm not sure Messi can do it. I think Messi is a Barcelona product.”01:27 AM · Mar 16, 20228228719Sir Alex Ferguson: “Cristiano Ronaldo could play for Millwall, QPR, Doncaster Rovers… anyone, and score a hat-trick in one game. I'm not sure Messi can do it. I think Messi is a Barcelona product.” https://t.co/36XeeupQu8This is nonsensical. I know we don’t tend to look beyond these shores very much, and I’m sure Sir Alex is being supportive of one of his own, but even as recently as this summer, Messi almost single-handedly won the Copa America for Argentina. They’re both greats. twitter.com/sportbible/sta…Morgan replied to Lineker's aforementioned tweet, saying:Piers Morgan@piersmorganIt’s perfectly sensical, Jugs. Messi’s clearly lost his magic since leaving Barca. Ronaldo’s kept it at many clubs/countries incl back at United now. That’s why he’s the . twitter.com/GaryLineker/st…Gary Lineker 💙💛@GaryLinekerThis is nonsensical. I know we don’t tend to look beyond these shores very much, and I’m sure Sir Alex is being supportive of one of his own, but even as recently as this summer, Messi almost single-handedly won the Copa America for Argentina. They’re both greats. twitter.com/sportbible/sta…01:30 AM · Mar 16, 202282695This is nonsensical. I know we don’t tend to look beyond these shores very much, and I’m sure Sir Alex is being supportive of one of his own, but even as recently as this summer, Messi almost single-handedly won the Copa America for Argentina. They’re both greats. twitter.com/sportbible/sta…It’s perfectly sensical, Jugs. Messi’s clearly lost his magic since leaving Barca. Ronaldo’s kept it at many clubs/countries incl back at United now. That’s why he’s the 🐐. twitter.com/GaryLineker/st…Lineker did not hold back and felt that Morgan was not showing enough respect to Messi:Gary Lineker 💙💛@GaryLinekerHe’s the now? So you’re judging 2 of the greatest players of all-time on how they perform in their mid thirties when they’re both past their best. I don’t care who you or anyone else thinks is better, it’s not important, but a lack of respect for either is totally unwarranted twitter.com/piersmorgan/st…Piers Morgan@piersmorganIt’s perfectly sensical, Jugs. Messi’s clearly lost his magic since leaving Barca. Ronaldo’s kept it at many clubs/countries incl back at United now. That’s why he’s the . twitter.com/GaryLineker/st…01:40 AM · Mar 16, 20225207346It’s perfectly sensical, Jugs. Messi’s clearly lost his magic since leaving Barca. Ronaldo’s kept it at many clubs/countries incl back at United now. That’s why he’s the 🐐. twitter.com/GaryLineker/st…He’s the 🐐 now? So you’re judging 2 of the greatest players of all-time on how they perform in their mid thirties when they’re both past their best. I don’t care who you or anyone else thinks is better, it’s not important, but a lack of respect for either is totally unwarranted twitter.com/piersmorgan/st…Morgan responded by defending his stance on the Argentine not being comfortable outside of Barcelona:Piers Morgan@piersmorganFergie wasn’t disrespectful, he just said Messi wouldn’t play as well outside of his Barcelona comfort zone, and as we can all now see, he doesn’t. twitter.com/garylineker/st…Gary Lineker 💙💛@GaryLinekerHe’s the now? So you’re judging 2 of the greatest players of all-time on how they perform in their mid thirties when they’re both past their best. I don’t care who you or anyone else thinks is better, it’s not important, but a lack of respect for either is totally unwarranted twitter.com/piersmorgan/st…01:47 AM · Mar 16, 20221087108He’s the 🐐 now? So you’re judging 2 of the greatest players of all-time on how they perform in their mid thirties when they’re both past their best. I don’t care who you or anyone else thinks is better, it’s not important, but a lack of respect for either is totally unwarranted twitter.com/piersmorgan/st…Fergie wasn’t disrespectful, he just said Messi wouldn’t play as well outside of his Barcelona comfort zone, and as we can all now see, he doesn’t. twitter.com/garylineker/st…Things became more heated when both Lineker and Morgan continued to argue passionately about Messi and Ronaldo:Piers Morgan@piersmorganRonaldo’s 37 and still banging in wondrous hat-tricks. Messi’s 3yrs younger & fading faster than my taste buds after covid - because he’s not got his Barca support blanket. The debate is over - it’s @Cristiano twitter.com/garylineker/st…Gary Lineker 💙💛@GaryLinekerHe’s nearly 35. What on earth do you expect. It’s absurd and disrespectful to suggest that Messi in his prime couldn’t perform wondrously in any league in the world. twitter.com/piersmorgan/st…01:57 AM · Mar 16, 20224416483He’s nearly 35. What on earth do you expect. It’s absurd and disrespectful to suggest that Messi in his prime couldn’t perform wondrously in any league in the world. twitter.com/piersmorgan/st…Ronaldo’s 37 and still banging in wondrous hat-tricks. Messi’s 3yrs younger & fading faster than my taste buds after covid - because he’s not got his Barca support blanket. The 🐐 debate is over - it’s @Cristiano twitter.com/garylineker/st…The former Good Morning Britain host also went on to say that Ronaldo was a better footballer than Maradona, placing the Argentine legend in second place on his all-time list.Piers Morgan@piersmorganOoooohhhh, someone’s getting touchy! It’s not my fault Ronaldo’s playing so much better than Messi.. ps For the record, I think Maradona’s the 2nd best player ever - after @Cristiano twitter.com/garylineker/st…Gary Lineker 💙💛@GaryLinekerPlayers will always be judged on their prime years. By your criteria Maradona would be considered average. I know you’re always texting Ronaldo and desperately want him to like you, but you can do that without disrespecting other greats. twitter.com/piersmorgan/st…02:13 AM · Mar 16, 20221234112Players will always be judged on their prime years. By your criteria Maradona would be considered average. I know you’re always texting Ronaldo and desperately want him to like you, but you can do that without disrespecting other greats. twitter.com/piersmorgan/st…Ooooohhhh, someone’s getting touchy! It’s not my fault Ronaldo’s playing so much better than Messi.. ps For the record, I think Maradona’s the 2nd best player ever - after @Cristiano twitter.com/garylineker/st…The heated debate between the two soon took an ugly turn as both Lineker and Morgan resorted to some frankly immature insults on Twitter:Gary Lineker 💙💛@GaryLinekerWatching the game, I think I may have just got a glimpse of your feet hanging from @Cristiano’s shorts. twitter.com/piersmorgan/st…Piers Morgan@piersmorganOoooohhhh, someone’s getting touchy! It’s not my fault Ronaldo’s playing so much better than Messi.. ps For the record, I think Maradona’s the 2nd best player ever - after @Cristiano twitter.com/garylineker/st…02:16 AM · Mar 16, 20227814587Ooooohhhh, someone’s getting touchy! It’s not my fault Ronaldo’s playing so much better than Messi.. ps For the record, I think Maradona’s the 2nd best player ever - after @Cristiano twitter.com/garylineker/st…Watching the game, I think I may have just got a glimpse of your feet hanging from @Cristiano’s shorts. twitter.com/piersmorgan/st…Piers Morgan@piersmorganMate, when it comes to sycophantic obsequious arse-licking, your fangirl worship of Messi even as he fades into mediocrity is in a class of its own! twitter.com/garylineker/st…Gary Lineker 💙💛@GaryLinekerWatching the game, I think I may have just got a glimpse of your feet hanging from @Cristiano’s shorts. twitter.com/piersmorgan/st…02:19 AM · Mar 16, 20221347145Watching the game, I think I may have just got a glimpse of your feet hanging from @Cristiano’s shorts. twitter.com/piersmorgan/st…Mate, when it comes to sycophantic obsequious arse-licking, your fangirl worship of Messi even as he fades into mediocrity is in a class of its own! twitter.com/garylineker/st…Both these legendary attackers have dominated the football world in the last 15 years. While the debate might rage on as to who is better between the two, there is no doubting that both players have cemented their legacy in football history.Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are both out of the UEFA Champions League this seasonManchester United v Atletico Madrid: Round Of Sixteen Leg Two - UEFA Champions LeagueManchester United were eliminated by Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate as Cristiano Ronaldo failed to get his name on the scoresheet at Old Trafford in the second leg. The Portuguese superstar came into the game on the back of a stunning hat-trick against Tottenham, but Los Rojiblancos held on firmly to deny both Ronaldo and United a goal in the second leg.Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain: Round Of Sixteen Leg Two - UEFA Champions LeagueLionel Messi's PSG, on the other hand, were eliminated by a Karim Benzema hat-trick at the Santiago Bernabeu. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner looked a shadow of his old self as Real Madrid completed a stunning comeback to book their place in the quarter-finals. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThis season could definitely mark the end of the Messi-Ronaldo era.