Wayne Rooney passed over Lionel Messi when choosing the player he wished he had played with during his illustrious career.
At 39, Rooney is celebrated as one of England’s greatest players after an impressive career in football.
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Throughout his playing days, the Croxteth native represented Everton, Manchester United, DC United, and Derby County. ..Continue Reading
Rooney spent the prime years of his career at United, where he won five Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League, among other accolades.
The former England captain also had the privilege of playing alongside some of the best players in the sport, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, and Roy Keane.
However, there was one player Rooney wished he had the chance to play with – former French and Real Madrid midfielder Zinedine Zidane.
In May 2024, during an appearance on The Overlap – a show by Sky Bet – Rooney shared why he would have loved to have Zidane as a teammate.
“I wish I played with Zinedine Zidane, just how good he was. [Lionel] Messi is the best of all time but to play with Zidane [would be amazing],” Rooney said. “He’s cool, calm, plays with both feet, goals and assists.”
Throughout his illustrious playing career, the Frenchman represented clubs such as Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, and Real Madrid.
Internationally, Zidane earned 108 caps for France, netting 31 goals.
He won numerous trophies, including the Champions League, La Liga, the World Cup, and the European Championship.
Upon retiring in 2006, Zidane transitioned to management, taking the reins at Real Madrid in two different stints, during which he secured three consecutive Champions League titles.
Speaking about his best teammate, Rooney told the Seven: Rob Burrow podcast with England rugby legend Rob Burrow: “My best team-mate, I’d say Darren Fletcher. There were a few – John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Michael Carrick – we were all really close.
“But Fletch was probably the one We sat next to each other in the dressing room and shared really good moments on and off the pitch together.”
