Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Wayne Rooney decides who the GOAT is

That’s the view of Cristiano Ronaldo’s former Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney.

Messi and Ronaldo are widely acknowledged as the two greatest players currently playing.

Indeed, the pair have dominated the Ballon d’Or for the past decade, each winning the award five times.

Both Messi and Ronaldo have been placed in the 30-man shortlist for this year’s Ballon d’Or having shone last season.

Ronaldo helped Real Madrid to their third successive Champions League title before joining Juventus while Messi starred as Barcelona won La Liga.

Rooney has felt the power of Messi with Barcelona beating Manchester United in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals, with Messi scoring in each.

And the former England striker believes the Argentinian was the difference, and that he’s the best player to ever step foot on a football pitch.

“In both games (Champions League finals) if we had been against any other team but Barcelona you would have fancied us to win,” Rooney said.

“In my eyes they are the best team ever and Messi is the best player ever.

“What he gets to do is incredible. Messi has just got a bit of everything.

“Ronaldo has gone from a winger to a striker and a goalscorer.

“Rather than taking players on all the time, he has gone more one or two touch, getting in the box and scoring goals.

“Messi a bit of everything – you see him scoring goals from playing probably a deep midfield role at times, and where I’m probably still walking on the pitch he’s scoring.

“So he is probably the best.”

Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi will not face each other in the league this year after the Portugal star’s move to Juventus.

Ronaldo will return to Manchester United though in the Champions League group stage.