Rooney or Messi?

Are these the two best players in the world currently? There are a few players who are probably thereabouts, but the media, always ready for a hype, has already dubbed them the two best players in the world. And not entirely without reason. In a world of Drogba, Torres, Fabregas, Ronaldo and Kaka, these two have entered a league of their own, because of their current form. And because how well their teams are doing. And because they have stayed fit for a long time to exert an influence on their teams and the game in general.

So who do you think is better footballer, Wayne Rooney or Lionel Messi?

I might get pilloried by Manchester United fans, but Messi wins this one hands down. No doubts about it. If you were to ask me who is more influential, I would say it is Rooney without a second thought. But a better footballer? There is none better than Lionel Messi today. And that has been the case for the last 2 years.

Rooney has great technique, superb pace and excellent awareness. He is lightning quick. He has great power and is a fantastic athlete. His finishing is lethal. But most of all, he has unmatched drive to work for his team. His energy is unrivalled. You will see him everywhere on the pitch. Defending, creating and scoring. A complete team player.

Messi of course has great energy too, though he is nowhere close to Rooney when it comes to that attribute. But see him with the ball and he shows you why he is the world's best. His pace and acceleration are complemented with unbelievably quick feet and deadly finishing. He can dribble his way past a number of defenders. And he can do that time and again. He can see and make a pass that many would probably not spot even on television or on play-station. And this is what distinguishes him from most other players. Not that the other players cannot do all this. It's just that some of the passes he makes and goals he scores are of unbelievable quality and he keeps doing this with incredible consistency.

Add to that the elegance with which he plays every minute of his game, and you have the best player in the world. Tom Adams, in a fabulous article on soccernet (you can see it here) says -

"Speculation that Rooney is football's leading light is far from outrageous. It is not, for example, a manifestation of the unjustified national arrogance that was exposed so horribly when Hungary humbled an overconfident England side with a 6-3 victory at Wembley in 1953, shattering illusions of grandeur. But it should be recognised that Messi is on another level - a once-in-a-lifetime talent. There is no excuse for a superiority complex on the part of Rooney or England."

"Sir Alex Ferguson's protege is in the form of his life though, there is no question about that. Deadly in the box, he has married a collection of predatory strikes with a catalogue of headed efforts. But they are not goals that cause jaws to drop in amazement and fans to forward on YouTube links with childish enthusiasm.

Messi, with his precocious dribbling skills, expert finishing, raw pace and brilliant football brain, scores such goals on a ridiculously regular basis. Moments that engage the imagination are his stock in trade, and he produced another on Wednesday night with that thrilling first goal."

I think that captures the point perfectly.

Messi vs Rooney is somewhat like Barcelona vs Manchester United. Both teams are superbly effective and their record speaks for itself. But Manchester United are mostly about raw practicality, physicality and power, whereas Barcelona  are all about elegance and unadulterated skill.

Its a joy to watch Barcelona even if you are not a fan. To watch them is like watching art unfolding itself in front of your eyes. That is what football is all about. And no one epitomizes that more than the world's greatest footballer - Lionel Messi.