Lionel Messi: What I really think of Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney (left) and Lionel Messi face off in the 2009 Champions League final

LIONEL MESSI insists Wayne Rooney will always put the team first over personal records - just like he does.

 

Messi has smashed records in Spanish and European football since emerging onto the scene at Barcelona a decade ago.

The three-time Ballon d'Or winner is just seven goals off Gabriel Batistuta's 56-goal haul in the race for all-time top scorer of Argentina.

 

And he said Rooney deserves his place at the top of world football after the Manchester United captain bagged his 50th international goal to surpass Sir Bobby Charlton atop the England charts this week.

“Wayne Rooney is for me a once in a generation player. One of those special players, who is not comparable to any other," Messi said.

 

“There are many special players, but Rooney has exceptional quality and technical ability as well as being one of the strongest players I have faced with an exceptional work rate - there is nobody like him.

“Rooney is a winner. He will just be focused on success with England in the European Championship.

“I have always said the same is true of myself and Argentina — breaking caps and goals records mean nothing unless they come with trophies.

"Like I say, Wayne is a winner. It will always be the team first and personal records second.”