🅾️🅾️ Wayne Rooney: On Lionel Messi performance against Austria: “I’ll say this now, what we’re witnessing right now is just completely mental. I’ve played at the absolute highest level, I know what the physical toll of this game is, and Messi scoring twice today to break the all-time World Cup goal record? It’s just insane. How are we all sitting here acting like this is normal? The man is 39 years old. At 39, most lads are sitting on a beach, or struggling to get out of bed for a Sunday league kickabout, let alone dominating the biggest tournament on Earth. It defies logic. He’s out there gliding past players, reading the game three steps ahead of everyone else, and finishing like he’s still in his mid-twenties. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: anyone who still doubts Lionel Messi as the greatest to ever play the game simply is not mentally OK. It’s that simple. There’s no footballing argument left to have. Even if your brain has been completely disconnected, your eyes alone just sitting there watching what he is doing on that pitch should tell you absolutely everything you need to know. You don't need a tactical breakdown. You just need to look at the screen. To do what he’s done throughout his career was incredible, but to reach the pinnacle of the World Cup record books at 39? We will never, ever see anything like this again. We just need to stop trying to analyze it and appreciate that we're looking at the absolute best to ever lace up a pair of boots”
Community note
Wayne Rooney did not make these comments about Messi's performance. No such quote appears on his official X account or in media reports of the match. x.com/WayneRooney espn.com/soccer/match/_…

Jun 22, 2026 · 7:23 PM UTC

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⚽️
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How true is this?
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Well said
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How can your eyes watch if your brain has been disconnected? These mofo thinks the eyes have compute or what
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Was this really from Wayne Rooney @grok? You know that Rooney played together with Cristiano Ronaldo at Man United? Would he make this kind of unpalatable public statement to Cristiano in favor of Messi bearing in mind that they're both in competition for the GOAT?
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Just nonsense legend
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To think Rooney played with Ronaldo for many years and still has this to say about Messi is insane. You will never hear Suarez or David Villa talk about Ronaldo like this. Something about Messi's attitude and commitment to lift his teammates that Ronaldo lacks
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Messi is the definition of football. He is football personified. I just love that he is ending his career on a good note despite all the setbacks. Crazy to think 10 years ago he retired from the argentine national team after crashing out of the Copa America.
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I agree with Wayne
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i rate rooney
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age made it even harder to explain
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Is this statement true @grok ?
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Wayne has never said such well-structured sentences in his life.
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Rooney is spot on. Breaking the World Cup record at 39 is completely unhinged behavior. We are witnessing living history
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As a bonus he's happily married to his childhood sweetheart. On so many levels he's the real deal.
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ALT Crypto Pointing GIF by Based Chad

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Don't stress yourself Rooney. We already know. The whole world including Ronaldo know this too.
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Greatest 🐐🙌🏿
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Rooney didn't say that. What’s the fucking point of making this up?
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39 years old, breaking World Cup records and still deciding games on the biggest stage. At this point we're not watching football, we're watching history refuse to retire. 🐐🇦🇷
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I know Rooney thinks this and what it says is 100% true! .... . But did he actually say it? Lots of these posts show a generic image with someone holding a mic and a quotation , but there is never a source of Information .
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@grok did Wayne Rooney say this?
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Messi's a superb player, you can't argue with his longevity and stats, but the most talented player I've ever seen is Diego Maradona.
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Maradona was great... The Brazil Ronaldo was great too... Many great players in the past but their career was kinda short... Messi being able to do what he is doing now for more than 2 decades? The longevity? Man... I'mma not gonna even bother to start any argument
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peak Maradona was better than Messi even if it was short lived.
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He was only opportuned to be grouped with weaker opponents. What's the FIFA rating of the two teams he just played? FIFA tactically grouped Argentina with weak club to favor Messi, what happened to the obvious red card offense he committed? C Ronaldo remains the GOAT in football history.
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⭐ Legends Described #Messi as: • Genius — Pelé said Messi has “a genius mind for football.” • Legend — Maradona called him “a living legend.” • Magician — Ronaldinho said: “He is the true magician.” • Miracle — Buffon described him as “a football miracle.” • Unstoppable — Maldini said defenders “cannot stop him.” • Alien — Rio Ferdinand: “He plays like an alien.” • Artist — Xavi: “He paints football.” • Humble — Iniesta: “The most humble superstar ever.” • Silent killer — Mourinho: “A quiet assassin.” • Impossible — Guardiola: “He does the impossible.” • Phenomenon — Del Piero: “A phenomenon of nature.” • Terrifying — Vidic: “Terrifying for defenders.” • Unique — Henry: “There will never be another.” • Majestic — Wenger: “Majestic control.” • Brilliant — Zidane: “Brilliant in every touch.” • Dominant — Klopp: “He dominates games alone.” • Inspirational — Raúl: “He inspires generations.” • Unmatched — Busquets: “No one compares.” • Mythical — Casillas: “A mythical figure.” • The greatest — Many legends simply said: “The greatest ever.” *based on real quotes and how they described him, and there are much more. Add the rest here. #messi #WorldCup2026
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👊👏👏👍" CORRECTO: Wayne Rooney...no solo tenemos pensamientos similares, analizando a este monstruo del futbol mundial." @diarioas @sport @DiarioOle
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Nah Rooney can’t be right as @piersmorgan says Ronaldo is the best of all time and Messi wouldn’t even get in an all time 11… 🫠
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💖
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Hard to compare him to Pele though. He was getting killed every match.
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jajaja el endiosamiento ridículo del corrupto Messi por ex jugadores, medios de comunicación y el favor de los árbitros que no sancionan a Messi demuestra un gran sistema corrupto de la Mafia de Infantino a favor de Messi que paga para que todo sea a favor de su enano protegido.
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I've heard that somewhere there are some people are beginning to compare mbape to messi just because mbape scored two goals today. They forget something, when Messi had the same age as him, guess what he achieved.
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Messi will forever be a joy to watch
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Rooney won have said different thing or wouldn't have said anything it it were Ronaldo so I don't take this fat guy serious
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