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Jamie Carragher has labeled LaLiga a ‘joke league’ as he defended his decision to pick MLS star Lionel Messi over Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jnr in his EA Sports FC 24 Team of the Year.
The former Liverpool defender debated with fellow Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville over the inclusion of Messi over Vinicius Jr, with the latter opting to pick the Real Madrid star in his squad.
Neville wondered whether Messi played enough games for Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami in 2023 to make up his squad.
However, Carragher said the Argentina World Cup winner did enough during his time in MLS to warrant an inclusion, while wondering what Vinicius Jr. did in 2023.
Neville told Air sports: ‘My player, Vinicius, has been sensational for Real Madrid. So I don’t constantly feel an emotional attraction to a player who has hardly played for a year, but we all love him. We think he’s a great player, but we can’t pick him for what he has done in 2023.’
Jamie Carragher debated the inclusion of Lionel Messi over Vinicius Jr. in his EA Sports Team of the Year with Gary Neville, who instead chose to select the Real Madrid winger
Carragher said Messi did enough at Inter Miami in 2023 to warrant an inclusion in his squad
He also wondered what Vinicius Jr. in 2023 and labeled LaLiga as a ‘joke league’.
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Carragher, however, disagreed, saying: “I would pick him because of what he did in the MLS.”
He tried to talk about the goals and passes Messi has made at Inter Miami.
Messi played a total of fourteen games for Inter Miami, reaching the Leagues Cup and also reaching the final of the US Open Cup.
However, Neville highlighted that Messi only played six games in the MLS.
Carragher replied: “I know, but it was unbelievable. What has Vinicius Jr. done this season?’
Marcel, after checking his phone, told his fellow Sky Sports pundit that the Brazilian scored 18 goals and registered 17 assists in 44 games in the 2023 calendar year.
However, Carragher pointed out that the goals were for Real Madrid, scoring in a ‘joke competition’ – before pointing out that ‘they hadn’t even won LaLiga’.
He added: ‘For the balance of the team he is a left winger, you have put him on the right wing.’
Neville asked Carragher if he thought Real Madrid were ‘an easy team to play for’, to which the ex-Liverpool defender said ‘no’ before adding that Messi also won the Ballon d’Or in 2023.
Former Manchester United defender Neville said Messi would have made his team if he had success at the 2023 World Cup, but pointed out that he ‘barely played for Inter Miami’ and scored seven goals in 16 games at PSG – which is from the Champions League was thrown .
Vinicius (right) has been in excellent form in 2023 but has struggled with injuries in recent months
Messi, meanwhile, won Ballon d’Or awards – thanks to Argentina’s victory at the 2022 World Cup
Vinicius Jnr had an excellent 2022-2023 season, despite Real Madrid only winning the Copa del Rey.
This season he has scored six goals in 15 appearances – in a season in which he has struggled with injuries after only just returning after recovering from a torn thigh muscle.