Rooney Reiterates Messi Preference in GOAT Debate

In the enduring debate over who claims the title of the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT) in football, Wayne Rooney has once again thrown his support behind Lionel Messi, offering further insight into his reasoning.

Despite having shared a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo during their time at Manchester United, Rooney has consistently championed Messi as football’s ultimate GOAT, setting aside his allegiances to Old Trafford.

Rooney’s allegiance to Messi dates back to 2012 when he took to Twitter to declare Messi as “the best ever,” a sentiment he reiterated over a decade later following Messi’s remarkable performance in guiding Argentina to the World Cup final and lifting the coveted golden trophy.

While Rooney maintains utmost respect for Ronaldo, he asserts that Messi possesses a unique quality that sets him apart, citing Messi’s selflessness compared to Ronaldo’s single-minded focus on scoring goals. Rooney recalls his own experiences facing Messi on the pitch, acknowledging the Argentine maestro’s unparalleled skill.

“He doesn’t care about anything else, it’s goals, that’s all he wants.

“Whereas you look at Messi, he wants to play a bit more. 

“I suppose that’s what Hazard is saying, he liked to play – exactly like myself.

“I saw something that Gery Neville said recently, that Alex Ferguson always used to have a go at me for coming too deep, but it was because I wanted to play football. 

Adding fuel to the debate, Rooney suggests that Messi’s style of play is less selfish compared to Ronaldo’s relentless pursuit of goals, emphasizing Messi’s desire to engage in the overall flow of the game. This sentiment echoes recent comments from former footballer Eden Hazard, who opined that he was a better “pure footballer” than Ronaldo.

Reflecting on his own playing style, Rooney acknowledges similarities with Hazard in their preference for active participation in the game rather than solely pursuing goal-scoring opportunities. He recalls feedback from former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who encouraged him to stay forward but acknowledges his inclination to drop deeper to engage in the game.

Rooney’s remarks shed light on the nuanced differences between Messi and Ronaldo, emphasizing the former’s inclination towards holistic gameplay over the latter’s goal-centric approach. As the GOAT debate rages on, Rooney’s insights provide valuable perspective from a player who has shared the pitch with both footballing legends.