Jamie Carragher has slammed LaLiga as a ‘joke league’ as he defended his decision to choose 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 the inclusion of Messi over Vinicius Jnr with his Sky Sports co-pundit Gary Neville, with the latter electing to choose the Real Madrid star in his XI. 

Neville questioned whether Messi played enough matches in 2023 for Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami to make his squad.

Neville told Sky Sports: ‘My player, Vinicius, has been sensational for Real Madrid. So I’m not having this continual, emotional draw to a player that’s hardly played in a year but we all love him, we think he’s an amazing player but we can’t pick him for what he’s done in 2023.’ 

Jamie Carragher debated his inclusion of Lionel Messi over Vinicius Jr in his EA Sports Team of the Year with Gary Neville – who instead opted 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 questioned what Vinicius Jr did in 2023 and labelled LaLiga as a ‘joke league’

Carragher though disagreed saying: ‘I would pick him for what he did in the MLS.’

He attempted to talk about the goals and passes that Messi has done with Inter Miami.

Messi in total played 14 games for Inter Miami, leading them to the Leagues Cup while also reaching the final of the US Open Cup.

Neville though highlighted that Messi played just six games in the MLS.  

Carragher responded: ‘I know but it was unbelievable. What has Vinicius Jr done this season?’

Neville, after checking his phone, told his Sky Sports co-pundit that the Brazilian scored 18 goals and registered 17 assists in 44 matches during the 2023 calendar year.  

Carragher though pointed out the goals were for Real Madrid and scored in a ‘joke league’ – before pointing out ‘they didn’t even win LaLiga’. 

He added: ‘For the balance of the team he’s a left winger, you’ve put him on the right wing.’

Neville questioned Carragher whether 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 his World Cup success in 2023, but pointed out that he ‘hardly played at Inter Miami’ and scored seven goals in 16 games at PSG – who were booted out of the Champions League. 

Vinicius (right) was in excellent form in 2023 but has struggled with injuries in recent months

Messi meanwhile won the Ballon d’Or awards – thanks to Argentina’s World Cup win in 2022

Neville and Carragher’s combined XI ultimately went with Vinicius Jr over Messi

Vinicius Jnr enjoyed an excellent 2022-23 season despite Real Madrid only winning the Copa del Rey. 

This season he has scored six goals in 15 appearances – in a campaign where he has struggled with injuries after only just coming back after recovering from a torn thigh muscle.