Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney names the greatest soccer player in history

Many argue Wayne Rooney deserves recognition as one of the greatest forwards in Premier League history, particularly during his peak years. However, the former Manchester United striker was humble when ranking himself alongside some of the sport’s all-time greats.

Speaking on a Champions League broadcast, Rooney participated in a classic “pick-one” challenge, starting with a choice between Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.

Rooney picked the Egyptian star but soon replaced him with Sergio Aguero. The Argentine striker held his spot over the likes of Karim Benzema and Raul before Rooney opted for Thierry Henry in the next round.

Henry surpassed rivals like Ruud van Nistelrooy, Andriy Shevchenko, ZlatanIbrahimovic, and Robert Lewandowski but ultimately gave way to Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona in action against Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney of Manchester United during the 2011 UEFA Champions League final. (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Rooney then chose Ronaldo over Ronaldo Nazario, only to crown Lionel Messi as the best when it came to a showdown between the Argentine and the Portuguese icons. “Maradona is close, but I think I’d go with Messi,” Rooney concluded, leaving no doubt about his stance.

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Rooney’s admiration for Messi Is well-documented

Rooney’s selection of Messi as the GOAT doesn’t come as a surprise. The Manchester United legend has consistently praised the Argentine forward, often placing him ahead of his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

Years earlier, in an interview on the Pardon My Take podcast, Rooney expressed a similar sentiment: “Both [Messi and Ronaldo] are probably the two best players to ever play, but I just think Messi is, in my eyes, the greatest of all time”.

After Argentina’s World Cup triumph in 2022, Rooney doubled down on his admiration for Messi: “Lionel Messi is the best player ever. What he does is incredible; he has a bit of everything. From scoring goals to playing as a pure midfielder, he’s unmatched”.