Manchester United hero Teddy Sheringham says Wayne Rooney is a match for the likes of Kaka and Fernando Torres.

Discussing Rooney's expected impact at this year's World Cup, Sheringham told The Sun: "I wouldn't swap Wayne for any of them. Obviously you love Kaka, Lionel Messi and Fernando Torres. They are all fantastic. But Rooney has the English mentality, he's a leader of men.

"I always loved players that did something different to me on a pitch. Someone who was very strong, iron-willed in a tackle. Rooney leads by example. He inspires people and leads them on to push that bit further and harder.

"That's what all great leaders have, they drive themselves and lead people. When you have a top player like that doing that, you want everybody to follow.

"I really believe Rooney is coming into his prime now. I don't think we're going to have to wait until he's 28 or 29. This year or next you're going to see him in his prime. That's where you want your players to be going into a big competition.

"His knowledge and his maturity is coming very early. He's like a boxer who's getting higher and higher and battering everyone else out of the way.

"Rooney is performing consistently at the highest level and he's doing it for England. ''Put me up against Spain or Brazil I can beat you all' - that's his mentality. That's why he inspires."