Former Manchester United Striker Wayne Rooney has admitted that Barcelona Star Lionel Messi is the best player of the all time.

Messi and Ronaldo are widely known as the two greatest players in football.

And the pair have dominated the Ballon d’or for over a decade, both winning five each.

This year, Messi and Ronaldo have been shortlisted for the 2018 Ballon D’or having performed last season.

Ronaldo helped Real Madrid win a third successive Champions League title while Messi performed as Barcelona won the La Liga and Copa Del Rey.

Rooney has felt the influence of Messi, with Barcelona beating Manchester United in the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals, with Messi scoring in each.

And the former England Striker believes Lionel Messi is the best player ever to step foot on a football pitch.

“In both games (Champions League finals) if we had been against any other team but Barcelona you would have fancied us to win,” Rooney said.

“In my eyes they are the best team ever and Messi is the best player ever.

“What he gets to do is incredible. Messi has just got a bit of everything.

“Ronaldo has gone from a winger to a striker and a goalscorer.

“Rather than taking players on all the time, he has gone more one or two touch, getting in the box and scoring goals.

“Messi a bit of everything – you see him scoring goals from playing probably a deep midfield role at times, and where I’m probably still walking on the pitch he’s scoring.

“So he is probably the best.”

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi will not face off in La Liga this year after Ronaldo’s move to Juventus in the summer.

However, Ronaldo will return to Manchester United in the Champions League group stage.