Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney is one of the greatest footballers to ever play for the club.
Capable of playing in any position, Wayne Rooney scored 253 goals for the Red Devils, earning his place in history.
But there was one player in his era that Rooney was left in awe of, and still is. The great Lionel Messi.
Messi is adding to his case to be remembered as the greatest player of all time, with a scintillating start at the 2026 World Cup.
In two games at the World Cup so far, Messi has scored five goals. He netted two against Austria after an opening hat-trick against Algeria.
Which one of these World Cup legends would have been the best signing for Man Utd?
Wayne Rooney made Lionel Messi claim in 2012
Even while he was still playing, Wayne Rooney made no secret of his admiration for the Argentine star.
Writing on X in 2012, Rooney posted: “Messi is a joke. For me the best ever.”
14 years on, Messi is still scoring goals at major tournaments at a prolific rate.
For years the debate between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has raged. Rooney has always believed that Messi had the edge.
Speaking in 2020, Rooney elaborated: “Despite my friendship with Cristiano, I’d go for Messi. It’s for the same reason I loved watching Xavi and Scholes: it’s the different things in Messi’s game.
“Ronaldo is ruthless in the box, a killer. But Messi will torture you before he kills you. With Messi you just get the impression he is having more fun.”
Messi has won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards and it is not inconceivable that his World Cup performances could propel a ninth.
You could already argue that he has built a case to be regarded as the greatest player of all time.
Wayne Rooney was ahead of the game on this one, his claim in 2012 has aged very well.
Eric Cantona claims he would score 80 goals per season in the modern era – What do you think?!
👑 The King has spoken…
Rooney’s Champions League Final goal overshadowed by Messi
Wayne Rooney scored in the Champions League Final for Manchester United in 2011, a goal that has been lost to history and forgotten.
Rooney’s equalising strike saw United go in 1-1 at half-time at Wembley, before a mauling in the second half.
Barcelona dominated United to win 3-1, with Messi scoring the second goal.
Messi had scored the opener in Barcelona’s 2-0 win over United in the 2009 Final.
Rooney saw first-hand how amazing Messi was, and has been in awe of him ever since.
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