Lionel Messi once praised an English player and wanted to play alongside him during his time at Barcelona.

Lionel Messi has had the privilege of playing alongside some of the world’s best players at Barcelona, including Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Neymar and Luis Suarez. However, the Argentine has admitted that he would like to play alongside an English player who is considered to be the best.

In a statement in 2015, Messi affirmed that former player Wayne Rooney possesses all the qualities needed for an attacking star, and is fully capable of playing in La Liga.

Specifically, Messi said: “If you look at the technique of a player like Wayne Rooney, he is as good as any player in Europe.

As I said, Rooney has great quality. Not only does he have excellent technique, he also works very hard for the team. I am sure Manchester United will never want to let him go.”

Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi have faced each other three times in the Champions League. The first time, in the first leg of the 2007/08 semi-final, Man Utd drew 0-0 away to Barcelona. In the second leg, the “Red Devils” despite not having Rooney’s service still defeated their opponents thanks to the only goal of Paul Scholes, thereby advancing to the final.

Just a year later, Rooney and Messi met again in the final. The Argentine superstar then enjoyed the joy of victory when the Blaugrana defeated Man Utd 2-0, in which Messi’s header became an iconic goal.

In the 2010/11 season, Man Utd continued to face Barca in the final. In the 90 minutes at Wembley, both Rooney and Messi scored, but the Tiki-taka style of play seemed to have destroyed the style of play built by Sir Alex Ferguson, thereby winning the championship for the second time in three years.

While receiving praise from Messi, Rooney also knows how to express his admiration for his colleague.

In the show The Overlap, “Shrek” affirmed that Messi deserves the title of GOAT (Best Player of All Time) more than Cristiano Ronaldo, his teammate at Man Utd.

The former England international said: “I think Messi is the greatest player of all time. I often get criticised for saying that, like ‘Why choose Messi and not Ronaldo?’

I understand that everyone has their own opinion – some prefer Messi, some prefer Ronaldo. They are both extraordinary players, probably the two best to ever play football. For me, Messi has a special flair and spontaneity – something I have always loved in a player. That’s why I chose him.”

Currently, while Rooney has retired from his playing career and moved into coaching, Messi is spending his final years playing for Inter Miami as well as the Argentina national team.