Breitner: Rooney Is A Global Icon

World Cup-winner Paul Breitner feels Wayne Rooney is Manchester United's number-one star.

The former West Germany international, who scored in two different World Cup finals and won 48 caps for his country, believes the England captain has earned the global respect of millions of supporters, even those who do not follow the Reds.

Speaking at the launch of the Red Heart United event at Old Trafford, the ex-Bayern Munich and Real Madrid stalwart was effusive in his praise of United's no.10 and explained his standing within the game.

"You have so many outstanding players in your team and in your squad but, of course, if you talk right now about the players of Manchester United then, in Europe and in world football, the number one is Wayne Rooney," Breitner told ManUtd.com.

"If you have a player at the level of [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Lionel] Messi or [Franck] Ribery for instance, you are always thinking of him, Wayne Rooney, [as well] because he is for many, many football fans and hundreds of millions of people, he is Manchester United. He is apart from the other great players you have. He is a man who embodies all the history of the club.”