Wayne Rooney has weighed in on the enduring debate between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, declaring them as ‘the greatest duo to grace the game’.
Ronaldo, at 39, and Messi, aged 36, have been long-standing rivals, consistently vying for top individual honors throughout their illustrious careers.
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As both icons approach the latter stages of their professional journeys, the discussion regarding who is superior remains a hot topic in the football world, and Rooney has confidently shared his perspective on the matter.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet, the Plymouth Argyle manager admitted: ‘I think Messi, he’s the best ever. I get a lot of stick for saying Messi where it’s as if, ‘How can you say Messi, it’s Ronaldo.’
‘I understand that people can say Messi, people can say Ronaldo – they are both incredible, probably the best two players to ever play the game.
‘For me, Messi has just got that little bit more flair, which I like in a player, so that’s the reason.’
Rooney’s recent remarks have come as quite the revelation, especially considering his shared history with Ronaldo at Manchester United, where they played together for five seasons.
Ronaldo made his move to United in 2003, followed by Rooney’s arrival in 2004, and their partnership continued until Ronaldo’s transfer to Real Madrid in 2009.
At 36, Messi is currently showcasing his talents with MLS team Inter Miami, where he has been in exceptional form, scoring 20 goals in 23 matches.
Playing under David Beckham’s ownership, he’s joined by his ex-Barcelona colleagues Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez, leading the team to the summit of the Eastern Conference after 10 matches.
Conversely, Ronaldo, now with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia since the end of 2022, has been a trailblazer, being one of the first high-profile players to join the Middle Eastern league.
His prowess remains undiminished, as evidenced by his recent feat of setting two new goalscoring records with a double in Al-Nassr’s 4-2 win against Al-Ittihad, securing his status as the top scorer in a single Saudi Pro League season.
