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Manchester United record goalscorer Wayne Rooney has had his say on the current best player in the world, while making a bold claim about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Wayne Rooney, the Manchester United and England legend, who now coaches Major League Soccer side D.C. United, has revealed that Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is now the best player in the world.
Haaland has been in irresistible form for Manchester City since joining from Borussia Dortmund last summer in a £51 million move.
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He has lit up English football, scoring an outstanding 48 goals in 42 appearances, 32 of which have come in the Premier League.
Wayne Rooney in awe of Haaland's brilliance
“Erling Haaland is the best footballer in the world right now,” Rooney wrote in his latest column for The Times.
“Lionel Messi is the greatest but, at this moment, nobody is playing better than a striker who, even though I broke records in that position myself, takes my breath away with the levels he’s reaching.
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“He’s the best in the world because of the numbers he’s posting, the performances he’s putting in and the mentality he shows.”
Rooney believes Haaland deserves Ballon d'Or ahead of Messi
Rooney went even further to tip Haaland to beat Messi in the battle for the 2023 Ballon d’Or.
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After leading Argentina to World Cup glory, Messi is expected to win the prestigious individual award for a record-breaking eighth time this year, but Haaland is more deserving, according to Rooney.
The former Premier League star added:
“If you’re looking at who is going to win the Ballon d’Or then it has got to be him, providing he keeps up his form of this season. And why wouldn’t he? A record of 224 goals in 264 games is the mark of a player whose standards don’t drop.
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“We’ve had the era of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, now this is his time, the era of Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. When there is a talent like him around you just have to enjoy it even if he is wearing a Manchester City shirt."
While Haaland is in exceptional form, it remains to be seen if he can match the levels of consistency produced by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo over the past 15 years. One thing is certain, he is on the right path.
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