Rooney Backs Ronaldo For Ballon d'Or

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney believes Cristiano Ronaldo is rightly the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or award because he has usurped Lionel Messi as the best player in the world.

The Reds skipper has seen his former team-mate play a key role as Real Madrid won the Champions League and he was instrumental in ensuring Portugal qualified for the World Cup finals with a virtuoso display in the play-off against Sweden.

Ronaldo maintained his superb run of form by helping the European champions defeat Liverpool 1-0 at the Bernabeu on Tuesday after scoring in the first match at Anfield.

When asked by MUTV if he felt Ronaldo would retain the trophy, Rooney replied: "I think so. He’s had an incredible two or three years and I think he has certainly overtaken Lionel Messi now as the best player in the world. I’m sure it’ll be difficult to give it to anyone else."