Former England defender Neil Ruddock watched Argentina’s controversial World Cup 2026 displays – and decided he would have two players firmly in his sights if he were still active.
He’d earmark Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández and Inter Miami star Lionel Messi for reducers, plus he’s so annoyed by the latter that he now favours Cristiano Ronaldo in the GOAT debate.
Looking back on another mercurial genius, Eric Cantona, Ruddock also revealed how the Manchester United legend was ready for a tear-up in the tunnel after he messed with the Frenchman’s collar.
Messi wound Razor up
During an exclusive conversation with iGaming.com, the ex-Liverpool and Tottenham centre-back said of being a hardman in his playing days: “I managed to kick pretty much everyone I set out to kick! I didn’t miss many.
“Nowadays, most players seem alright, but Lionel Messi wound me up during the [2026] World Cup.
“And that Chelsea midfielder – Enzo Fernández. I wouldn’t mind putting a proper tackle in on him.
“I used to be firmly in the Messi camp over Cristiano Ronaldo.
“But after Messi got on my nerves at the World Cup, I switched sides to Ronaldo!
“I’m nearly 60 years old and holding a grudge against Messi because he wound me up on TV – it’s strange, isn’t it?!”
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Cantona ‘wanted a fight’
Recalling the Cantona collar incident, Ruddock added: “He wanted to fight me in the tunnel – he wanted to knock my head off!
“Cantona was a huge bloke, bigger than me.
“I only did it because he was such a world-class talent and I needed to get inside his head to throw him off his game.
“Turning his upturned collar down drove him mad; he stopped caring about playing football and just wanted to brawl with me.
“It slightly backfired though, because he ended up scoring a last-minute penalty equaliser!
“But an incredible player. I was just doing everything possible to wind him up and break his focus.”
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