Wayne Rooney lauds Mbappé and Messi during World Cup 2026

Former England captain Wayne Rooney praised Kylian Mbappé, comparing the French forward to Brazil’s legend Ronaldo Nazário and urging fans to appreciate Mbappé’s talent while he remains at the peak of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Rooney said Mbappé is “the closest player football has seen to Ronaldo” and warned that supporters may overlook his achievements.

Rooney also extolled Lionel Messi’s performance, noting the Argentine’s two goals that broke the all‑time World Cup goal record at age 39. He called Messi “the greatest to ever play the game” and emphasized that the feat defies logic, urging viewers to simply appreciate the historic display.