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Rooney heaps praises on Messi, calls him ‘Arguably the best player ever’
Wayne Rooney, the former teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo, risked upsetting fans by showering praise on Lionel Messi, who is set to join Major League Soccer (MLS). As a coach for DC United, Rooney expressed his excitement about Messi’s arrival in the United States and offered the World Cup winner the ultimate compliment.
Rooney himself made a notable move to MLS in 2018, joining DC United after a brief stint at his boyhood club, Everton. After returning to the team as a coach in July 2022, Rooney has helped DC United secure eighth place in the Eastern Conference, positioning them for a potential spot in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Inter Miami currently sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. In an interview with Sky Sports, Rooney hinted that the addition of a big-name player like Messi could potentially inspire the team to improve their position in the league table.
‘It’s a great move, obviously, for the MLS,’ said Rooney when asked about Messi’s imminent arrival in Miami.
‘Commercially, it’ll be huge. It’ll draw more interest in the game from different regions of the world – I’m sure it’ll do that as well, because you’re getting arguably the best player to ever play the game.
‘I’m sure he’ll come here, and want to be competitive, and want to try and help Miami to climb up the table.
‘I think not just fans, but coaches, players – everyone is excited to have him in the league.’
Rooney’s compliment to Lionel Messi may have caused some discontent among those who believe Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest player in football history. The rivalry between Messi and Ronaldo, although not of significant concern to the players themselves, remains a subject of intense interest among football fans.
In Saudi Arabia, for example, Messi fans have been known to chant the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner’s name at Ronaldo during his appearances for Al-Nassr, presumably to taunt the Portuguese player.
As one of the few individuals to have had the opportunity to closely interact with both Messi and Ronaldo, Rooney, at 37 years old, has played alongside Ronaldo during their successful days at Manchester United and has faced Messi in Champions League matches between their respective teams.