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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Carragher &amp; Neville picked XI of 2023</li><li>Ex-Liverpool star defended adding Messi</li><li>Fellow pundit insisted Vinicius deserved nod</li></ul>

Lionel Messi or Vinicius Jr? Sky Sports pundits clash over EA Sports FC Team of the Year picks as Jamie Carragher calls La Liga a ‘joke league’ in defence of Inter Miami star

LaLiga

Leganes

Real Madrid

The Sky Sports pundits were asked to name their EA Sports FC Team of the Year for 2023 and clashed over whether or not Messi should be named in the XI. Ex-Liverpool and England defender Carragher felt that the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-completed-football-argentina-world-cup-win-2023-ballon-dor/blt2ef8bfdaf8f38dbc" target="_blank">2023 Ballon d'Or winner</a> deserved his place for guiding Argentina to World Cup success, despite the competition taking place in 2022. Former Manchester United star Gary Neville, though, felt Real Madrid star Vinicius deserved a place ahead of the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/inter-miami-tickets-selling-600-no-lionel-messi-guarantees-hong-kong-friendly-organisers-warning-excited-fans/bltf61589bdc0d62e15" target="_blank">Inter Miami sensation</a>.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Speaking on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb8JN-9sO_s" target="_blank">Sky Sports</a>, Neville insisted Messi should not be in the team, saying: "The World Cup was in 2022, if the World Cup was in 2023, Messi would be in the team. He's not because in 2023, he's played half a season, he hardly played in Miami, I think he only scored seven goals in about 16 games at PSG and they got booted out the Champions League again. 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."Carragher fought back, saying: "I would pick him for what he did in the MLS. Some of the goals and the passes he did... It was unbelievable. What's Vinicius Junior done this season?"Neville rose to the challenge, saying: "In 44 matches, he's had 18 goals and 17 assists. That's 35 goal involvements."Carragher then turned dismissive, adding the caveat: "For Real Madrid... And a joke league. What did Real Madrid win? He didn't even win La Liga!"

WHAT CARRAGHER AND NEVILLE SAID

Messi scored nine goals for Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 before he left to join Inter Miami, where he got off to a wonderful start by netting 10 goals to fire the club to Leagues Cup success, securing their first ever trophy. However, he was not able to lift the Florida club to the MLS playoffs, scoring just one goal in six games in the American league.Vinicius, meanwhile, was a vital part of Carlo Ancelotti's Madrid side as they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and finished second in La Liga, behind champions Barcelona. This season, having had his playing time limited because of muscle injuries, he has netted six times in 15 appearances in all competitions.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Messi is gearing up for his first full season in MLS with Inter Miami. First, however, he will come up against old foe Cristiano Ronaldo when Inter Miami face Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia on February 1. Vinicius, meanwhile, will be involved as Madrid take on <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/barcelona-player-ratings-vs-osasuna-robert-lewandowski/blt17e677d4fdba0067" target="_blank">fierce rivals Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana final</a> on Sunday.

WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI AND VINICIUS?

Lionel Messi or Vinicius Jr? Sky Sports pundits clash over EA Sports FC Team of the Year picks as Jamie Carragher calls La Liga a ‘joke league’ in defence of Inter Miami star | Goal.com United Arab Emirates

Jamie Carragher has branded La Liga a &quot;joke league&quot; as he defended his decision to put Lionel Messi in his team of the year over Vinicius Junior.