Rooney Says He Doesn’t “Hate” Ronaldo, While Still Believing Messi Is the Better Player
Former England captain Wayne Rooney has addressed the longstanding debate over who is superior between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Rooney made it clear he harbors no ill will toward Ronaldo, despite publicly stating in the past that Messi is, in his view, the better of the two.
Rooney, who was teammates with Ronaldo at Manchester United from 2004 to 2009, described the Al Nassr striker as a “genius,” praising both his longevity in the game and his continued high level of performance, particularly noting recent seasons in Saudi Arabia.
When asked whether he hates Ronaldo, a question that has surfaced repeatedly in recent years, Rooney responded emphatically that he does not. “People think I hate him,” he said. “I love him.”
On the other hand, Rooney made it clear why he often names Messi ahead of Ronaldo. He said Messi’s style, his dribbling, flair, ability to take on defenders, and general creative play, is what appeals more to him. But he stressed that this is a matter of personal preference rather than a judgment meant to diminish Ronaldo’s achievements.
As part of his remarks, Rooney also admitted that it’s increasingly hard to separate Ronaldo from Messi when discussing the very best in the sport. Despite favoring Messi for stylistic reasons, he acknowledged Ronaldo’s incredible goal-scoring record, his consistency, and the quality he continues to display even later in his career.