Wayne Rooney has expressed his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, calling him a “genius”, despite acknowledging that he prefers Lionel Messi in the eternal discussion about who is the best footballer.
A Successful Society at Manchester United
Rooney and Ronaldo shared a locker room at Manchester United for five years, between 2004 and 2009. During that time, they helped Sir Alex Ferguson’s team win three Premier League titles and one Champions League. Despite a controversial incident at the 2006 World Cup, where Ronaldo was accused of influencing Rooney’s expulsion, both footballers formed a fearsome attacking duo at United. In an interview on the podcast “Rio Ferdinand Presents”, the former England captain revealed that he feels “love” for the Al Nassr striker.
Rooney clarified that his preference for Messi does not imply a lack of appreciation for Ronaldo. “I absolutely love Messi, I love watching him play, and that was the only reason, because I think Messi had a little more in terms of how he played and faced players.” Furthermore, Rooney highlighted Ronaldo’s winning mentality, stating that he is a “killer”.I love Cristiano and playing with him. I don’t think people realize how close we were, he and I.
Wayne Rooney
After having shared the field with Ronaldo and faced Messi during his golden era at Barcelona, Rooney considers it impossible to choose one or the other.
“I don’t think you can argue with either of them. They are, in my opinion, the two best players who have played this sport,” Rooney concluded. Rooney praised Ronaldo’s longevity, who, about to turn 40, continues to demonstrate his quality on the field. “Cristiano is an absolute genius in what he is doing. What he is doing is incredible and I take my hat off to him. I couldn’t say anything bad about him.”
