'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney once weighed in on the age-old debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The two icons are often considered among the greatest players to have graced the beautiful sport.
Football fans, pundits, and former and current legends of the game have all been asked to choose the better footballer between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over the years. The two legendary forwards have dominated the sport over the last two decades, winning 13 Ballons d'Or together. While Messi won a record eight, Ronaldo holds five Ballons d'Or to his name.
Ronaldo and Messi's rivalry reached its peak between 2009 and 2018, when the Portuguese talisman played for Real Madrid and the Argentine icon was at Barcelona. Both legends have now bid farewell to European football, but football enthusiasts continue to debate who's the better footballer.
Trending
In a 2018 conversation on the Pardon My Take podcast, Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney picked Lionel Messi as the greatest of all time over his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. He said (via GOAL):
"Yeah, I think I've said this before, but they're both probably the best two players to ever play the game. I just think Messi is, in my eyes, the greatest ever."
Rooney's statements came despite him sharing the pitch with Messi's archrival, Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United between 2004 and 2009. The duo played 206 games together, recording 25 joint-goal contributions across competitions.
Both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have never lost a game against Wayne Rooney
During his illustrious career, Wayne Rooney has played against Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo multiple times. The English legend's record against Messi and Ronaldo reveals that he has never won against either of them.
Lionel Messi and Wayne Rooney faced each other in three games, all of which were UEFA Champions League fixtures. While the Argentine maestro was at Barcelona, they faced Rooney's Manchester United in two UCL finals in 2009 and 2011.
The Catalan giants won both games 2-0 and 3-1 respectively with Messi scoring once in each game. Lionel Messi's performances in both finals are often considered among his best performances of all time. The third game where Rooney faced the Argentine was a semi-final game in the 2007-08 season, ending in a 0-0 draw. Manchester United notably went on to win the UEFA Champions title that season.
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney has faced Cristiano Ronaldo in seven games for club and country. Much like Messi, Ronaldo also never lost a game against Rooney, recording five wins and two draws. The games notably include the 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals when Ronaldo's Portugal beat Rooney's England both times on penalties.
Rooney has also faced the legendary Portuguese twice in the Premier League while representing Everton. Ronaldo represented Manchester United in both games and won both times.
The duo last faced each other in the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League round of 16 while Ronaldo played for Real Madrid and Rooney was still with the Red Devils. Los Blancos won 3-2 on aggregate. The last game was a friendly between Portugal and England.
