Ryan Giggs believes Manchester United team-mate Wayne Rooney is closer to joining that select group of players currently regarded the best in the world. Giggs believes the 24 year old's form could soon earn him the kind of recognition currently enjoyed by Lionel Messi, Kaka and former Old Trafford team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, the three men widely acknowledged to be the best on the planet.
"He is getting nearer that group," said the veteran Welshman. "You have seen it for England and for us on the bigger stages. That is what all the top players do.
"The best thing is that Wayne is still developing. He is 24 now but he is only going to get better.
"His appetite is strong and he is a great player to have in your team."
At the level he has operated at for almost two decades, pure ability is almost taken for granted. What Giggs likes about Rooney is his willingness to keep working when events conspire against him.
"Even if he is not playing well he still causes problems for the other team," he said. "That is a very rare quality.
"Even with players who are genuine match-winners, if they are not playing so well, normally you don't see them.
"But if Wayne is not having the best of games, which is not very often, he never gives up.
"He believes he is going to create chances. He believes he will get them and he believes he is going to score goals.
"More often than not, he does."
