Manchester United defender Wes Brown rates Wayne Rooney the best in the world.

Brown says Rooney is the superior player compared with former United teammate and Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Brown said: "I wouldn't swap Wayne Rooney for anyone.

"He was a great player when he first came to United, but he has got better ­every year and I think this season he has put himself right up there with the best players in the world.

"At the moment he isn't one of the best - he's the best.

"I know I am biased but there isn't a ­weakness to his game and he has been ­scoring goals for fun.

"Ronaldo is ­fantastic, but maybe leaving United has given Wayne the chance to play in his favourite position as a striker and he has been ­unbelievable.

"The World Cup is his kind of stage. He will love the challenge of trying to beat the best defenders."