Rooney's olive branch to Ronaldo withdrawn

FT Desk

• 19 Nov 2022 05:12 CST
• 3 min read

Wayne Rooney looked to have poured oil on troubled waters when he said he would be glad to see Cristiano Ronaldo win the World Cup, but he has now doubled down on his verdict in the Ronaldo vs. Messi debate…

Rooney and Ronaldo won seven major honours together as Manchester United teammates between 2004 and 2009, before the latter left in a €94 million transfer to Real Madrid, but their relationship has taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks.

Ronaldo is in his second spell at United after returning last summer, but he has been frozen out by new manager Erik ten Hag and Rooney suggested that his former teammate could become an "unwanted distraction" if he didn't get his head down.

READ: Rooney offers Ronaldo olive branch

Ronaldo subsequently took aim at Rooney in his sweeping interview with Piers Morgan, branding him and fellow former United teammate Gary Neville as "rats" for not supporting him.

Rooney initially tried to diffuse the issue, saying he would be pleased to see Ronaldo win the World Cup, but he has now backed Lionel Messi to do just that, whilst choosing the Argentine ahead of his former colleague in their debate as to who is the greatest player of all-time.

Rooney: 'Messi's better'

"Everyone has different views on Messi and Ronaldo, but I've said many times that I think Messi is the best," he told The Times. "I've watched lots of videos of Diego Maradona, who was a similar player, but Messi's better.

READ: Ronaldo vs Messi at the World Cup: How their stats, goals, assists and performances compare

"He has everything - the way he controls games, his dribbling, his assists - whereas Ronaldo is more of a goalscorer."

Ronaldo is the top scorer in men's international football with his 117 goals for Portugal, and he has more than 800 official senior goals for club and country. He may have scored the last of his 145 of Man Utd though.

The Red Devils are seeking legal advice following the 37-year-old's interview with Morgan, in which he criticised the club well beyond Rooney, and they have reportedly told him not to report back for training after the World Cup.