Wayne Rooney has said "I don't hate" Cristiano Ronaldo and described his former Manchester United team-mate as a "genius" after admitting he can't separate the Portugal forward from Lionel Messi in the debate over who is the better player.

Rooney and Ronaldo played together at United for five years between 2004 and 2009, helping Sir Alex Ferguson's team to three Premier League titles and a Champions League during that period.

The two players famously clashed during the 2006 World Cup, when Ronaldo was accused of influencing Rooney's red card for stamping on Portugal teammate Ricardo Carvalho during a quarterfinal tie that was eventually won on penalties by the Portuguese.

But Rooney and Ronaldo formed a devastating goalscoring partnership at United and the former England cap

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