Barcelona ace Lionel Messi believes Manchester United star Wayne Rooney can win the FIFA World Player of the Year this year.

Messi admits that England winning the World Cup in South Africa would put Rooney in pole position to lift the coveted trophy in December.

He told The Sun: "It could be that whoever of us two wins the competition will become the World Player of the Year.

"In a tournament of this magnitude any player can gain a lot of points. I think of Fabio Cannavaro who won the World Cup with Italy and then won every individual award.

"So I think if one of us wins the World Cup, he will have an even bigger chance."