Oh boy. Skip Bayless is at it again, and this time he's using the beautiful game to take a swing at the King.
The longtime LeBron James antagonist—now a podcasting force after his Fox Sports 1 days—has found a new angle to needle the NBA superstar: Lionel Messi's dazzling run at the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup. Messi, who led Argentina to glory in 2022, kicked off this tournament with a hat trick, and Bayless couldn't resist turning that success into a dig at James.
During a broadcast, a commentator dared to lump Messi in with both Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Bayless fired back on social media: “Commentator just ruined the moment by comparing Messi with Michael Jordan AND LEBRON. So naive. So wrong. So blasphemous. MJ, yes. LBJ … NO.” The post has since ignited a firestorm among sports fans.
Surprisingly, many fans are siding with Bayless on this one. “It’s blasphemy to compare Messi to anyone if you ask me. Not even LeBron or MJ is close to my goat,” one fan wrote. Another added, “Genuine question: what would happen if one of these teams tried a box-and-1 style of defense on Messi (like they tried and failed with MJ)? Straight man-marking. These teams are already trained to know how to play down a man due to red cards.” A third simply said, “You’re not wrong.”
But not everyone is buying the hot take. Critics point out that Bayless's obsession with LeBron is nothing new. “This guy and his obsession with LeBron. Gotta appreciate being a life long hater,” one user wrote. Another pleaded, “Come on, man.” The debate echoes the recent Stephen A. Smith's embarrassing LeBron confession, which also divided fans.
Meanwhile, Messi's brilliance has overshadowed other World Cup narratives. Argentina's dominance—and Messi's hat trick—have even drawn attention from unexpected corners, like Gracie Hunt's stunning appearance at the match. And for those keeping score, Ronaldo's flop only adds to the drama.
As the 2026 World Cup barrels toward the knockout round this weekend, Bayless's trolling is a reminder that no matter the sport, the LeBron debate is never far away. Whether you think Messi belongs in the GOAT conversation alongside Jordan—or that LeBron doesn't—one thing is clear: Skip Bayless knows how to get people talking.
