Wayne Rooney has weighed in on the ongoing debate about Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, while also addressing his recent spat with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk. The former Manchester United striker made his comments on his podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show.
Rooney clarified his stance on the Messi vs Ronaldo debate, stating that while he prefers Messi's style, he holds Ronaldo in the highest regard. 'I love him. I think he's an absolute genius and what he's doing is incredible,' Rooney said of Ronaldo, who recently turned 40 and continues to play for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Regarding Van Dijk, Rooney responded to the defender's criticism of his punditry. Rooney acknowledged Van Dijk's past performances but noted a dip in form this season. 'As captain, your job is to call meetings with your teammates... I've got full respect for him,' Rooney added.
The comments come after Ronaldo's interview with Piers Morgan, where he reiterated his belief that he is better than Messi. Rooney, however, has consistently maintained that Messi is the superior player, though he praised both as the best in history.
