Cristiano Ronaldo has mocked former Crystal Palace chairman and football analyst Simon Jordan, telling Piers Morgan to ask him to stop using Botox because he “looks like an apple”.
Morgan revealed the remark after a heated on-air argument with Jordan over the Portugal captain, who recently left the national team’s training camp following a disagreement with manager Jorge Jesus.
According to the Daily Mail, Morgan said Ronaldo had criticised Jordan after the two broadcasters clashed over the forward’s decision to leave the camp. Jordan accused Morgan, the presenter of Football Uncensored, of “sycophancy” because of his support for Ronaldo.
The dispute centred on Ronaldo’s sudden departure and a 1,996-word statement in which he explained his position. His frustration reportedly stemmed from what he regarded as “false promises” made by Jesus.
Morgan, a well-known Arsenal supporter, strongly defended Ronaldo’s actions during the discussion on talkSPORT. He argued that Jordan, like Jesus, had failed to show sufficient respect for a 41-year-old player’s status in the game.
Later that evening, while presenting Football Uncensored with guest Jason Candy, Morgan said he had sent Ronaldo a recording of the exchange.
Speaking loudly, prompting laughter from Candy, Morgan said: “Cristiano texts back saying: ‘That blonde guy – tell him to stop with the Botox. He looks like an apple.’”
He then added: “Breaking news live from Cristiano Ronaldo. You’re an apple.”
Morgan went on to describe Jordan as “a suspiciously smooth-faced blonde apple”. When fellow presenter Richard Keys suggested Jordan might not be pleased to be referred to as “that blonde guy”, Morgan, 61, joked that Jordan, 59, “had been naturally blonde for about 20 years”.
Jordan questions Ronaldo’s role in disputes
Jordan had angered Morgan by referring to the 2022 interview he conducted with Ronaldo, which contributed to the player’s controversial departure from Manchester United, as a “sycophantic, contrived love-in”.
He also examined Ronaldo’s conduct in the dispute with Jesus and asked Morgan: “In your objective assessment, is it possible that the common denominator in these disputes is some of Ronaldo’s behaviour? Is there any possibility in your balanced, uncertain and sycophantic mindset that there could be?”
As Morgan continued to challenge him, Jordan said: “With your extensive experience of managing players and understanding the dynamics that go on behind the scenes, you cannot even see beyond the end of your nose that there might be a common denominator when problems occur. That common denominator might be Ronaldo’s behaviour.”
Jordan later called Morgan an “idiot” after the former Daily Mirror editor said he lacked the experience required to comment on the subject.
Morgan said he supported Ronaldo’s decision to leave the camp and issue his statement out of “pride”.
“I’m proud of him for standing up for himself,” Morgan said. “I think in life you have to stand up for yourself, not just when you’re being disrespected but also when your boss is lying to you.”
He added: “He’s clearly coming towards the end of his career, he knows his legacy and he wants to finish it properly. The one thing I’ve noticed throughout the years I’ve known him is that you have to be straight with him, and you have to respect him.”
A video of Morgan recounting Ronaldo’s comment was posted by Sports Uncensored on 7 October 2026.
