Lionel Messi has already identified the British player he believes would have excelled in La Liga during his time at Barcelona—and it’s not Steven Gerrard.
At 37, Messi is often regarded as the greatest player in La Liga, Barcelona, and perhaps in football history, although Cristiano Ronaldo might contest that title. Throughout his 873 appearances for the Catalan club, Messi scored an impressive 709 goals, contributing to Barcelona's ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey victories, and four Champions League trophies.
Of course, Messi had the support of talented teammates like Andres Iniesta, Xavi, and Sergio Busquets during his time at Camp Nou. While he never played in the Premier League, he frequently faced British teams in the Champions League.
So, which British player did Messi believe would adapt best to the technical style of Spanish football? In a 2015 interview with Shortlist, Messi expressed his admiration for Wayne Rooney. “Rooney has exceptional quality,” he stated when asked about the British player who would thrive in La Liga. “He possesses not only great technical ability but also works incredibly hard for his team. I’m sure Manchester United would never want to let him go, though.”
Ironically, Rooney did leave Manchester United in 2017 to return to his boyhood club, Everton, before moving on to D.C. United and Derby County.
“Wayne Rooney is a once-in-a-generation player,” Messi told the Mirror. “He is one of those unique talents who cannot be compared to anyone else. While there are many special players out there, Rooney stands out with his exceptional quality and technical skills. He is also one of the strongest players I've ever faced and has an incredible work ethic—there’s truly nobody like him.”
Messi further emphasized that individual records mean little without team success. “I’ve always said the same about myself and Argentina—breaking caps and goals records is meaningless unless they come with trophies,” he said. “Wayne is a winner; he always prioritizes the team over personal accolades.”
In discussing the ongoing debate over who is the greatest of all time—himself or Cristiano Ronaldo—Rooney weighed in during a May 2024 appearance on The Overlap, presented by Sky Bet. He described both players as “incredible” and acknowledged their status as arguably the best two players ever to grace the game.
When asked in a game of ‘winner stays on’ via Prime Video whether he preferred Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney quickly responded with “Lionel Messi.”
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