Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler rates Manchester United star Wayne Rooney ahead of Barcelona's Lionel Messi on current form. For the striker who Liverpool supporters called 'God', one man stands alone when he assesses who is currently the No 1 footballer in the world.
"Wayne Rooney is the best player out there at this moment in time," Fowler told the Sunday Mirror.
The 26 England caps he won were scant reward for his talent.
He went on: "I know Lionel Messi has been untouchable over the last two or three years, but on current form I don't think there is anyone out there who is such a complete player as Rooney.
"Wayne has redefined the role of a centre-forward. Not only is he scoring goals at a phenomenal rate, he is also dropping deep to dictate games from start to finish.
"Messi isn't that kind of player. He drifts in and out of matches. He wins matches with bursts of individual brilliance.
"Rooney is always in the game. Everything that Manchester United do goes through him. United have had players in the past who you think to yourself 'how are they ever going to replace him?'
"I'm talking about players like Eric Cantona, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo. But looking at what Rooney now does for their team, I'd say he is absolutely irreplaceable.
"I think Sir Alex Ferguson knows that as well. That's why he worked so hard to keep him at Old Trafford last year when it looked as though Wayne was going to leave.
"I know it's a strange thing to say, given the number of goals that Wayne has already scored for United and England this season, but I wouldn't say he is the most natural finisher.
"He has worked hard to improve that part of his game and has got better at it, but it's his all-round game that puts him in a class of his own at the moment."
