Rooney has denied claims the pair do not get along, with the former England captain stating he's never fallen out with the now Al-Nassr star.
"People think I hate him,” Rooney said on Rio Ferdinand Presents. “I love him!
“I think he's an absolute genius; what he's doing is incredible. I don't think people realise how close he and I were.
“Just because I've said Messi is better than Ronaldo, people think I don't like Cristiano. What he's doing...
“To be honest, over the last couple of years, I'm thinking, 'Do you know what?', he's probably gonna be the one when you look back, Cristiano, because he keeps going.
“I think these last three seasons he's the top goalscorer in Saudi and whatever.
“I absolutely love Messi, I love watching him play, and that was the only reason because I think Messi had a little bit more in terms of how he played, and taking players on.
“Ronaldo's a killer. People think because I've said Messi is better than Ronaldo, that I don't like him or I speak down on him.
“I just like the little flair about Messi, and that's it."