Messi´s the best, admits Rooney

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has named Barcelona forward Lionel Messi as the best player in the world.

Rooney has been virtually ruled out for the rest of the season after picking up a groin injury in training last week, but that will be seen as a blip on an otherwise sterling personal 2010 campaign.

Having scored 34 goals so far for United, Rooney is set to be named the Professional Footballer’s Association (PFA) player of the year on Sunday.

He could also win a third trophy in the young player category, thus becoming only the third player, after Andy Gray and Cristiano Ronaldo, to win both awards in the same season.

However Rooney believes that at world level, Argentina forward Messi — known the world over for his speed, ball skills and goalscoring abilities — is untouchable.

“It’s nice that people put me up there but I think Lionel Messi is the best in the world,” Rooney told United Review.

“The things he can do with the ball are unbelievable and he is scoring a lot of goals as well.

“He has been fantastic again this year. He is the best player in the world.”