Lionel Messi Praises Wayne Rooney, Talks Argentina Career and More

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has hailed Wayne Rooney as "a-once-in-a-generation player" following the Manchester United striker becoming England's all-time leading goalscorer.

Rooney's penalty against Switzerland on Tuesday saw the 29-year-old eclipse Sir Bobby Charlton as England's most prolific goalscorer as he moved onto 50 strikes for his country.

Messi paid tribute to the former Everton man and described him as an exceptional talent, per the Mirror's Darren Lewis:

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Wayne Rooney is for me a once in a generation player. One of those special players, who is not comparable to any other. There are many special players, but Rooney has exceptional quality and technical ability as well as being one of the strongest players I have faced with an exceptional work rate—there is nobody like him. Rooney is a winner. He will just be focused on success with England in the European Championship.

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Messi and Rooney have faced each other on three occasions in the Champions League, with the Argentinian coming out on top on two occasions as Barcelona prevailed against the Red Devils in the finals of 2009 and 2011.

Earlier in their respective careers, Rooney, Messi and former United star Cristiano Ronaldo were all tipped to go on to become three of the greatest players in the game.

While at club level Ronaldo and Messi have undoubtedly eclipsed Rooney, the trio's international records are remarkably similar, per BBC 5 live Sport:

Messi has received his fair share of criticism for failing to reproduce his astounding club form on the international stage, and he again tasted heartache this summer as Argentina lost to Chile in the Copa America final.

It came just a year on from the Albiceleste's World Cup final defeat to Germany, and Messi once again took much of the blame, with reports even emerging that the 28-year-old was preparing to take a break from the international game, per Argentinian outlet Ole (h/t AS). 

However, the Barca star is not considering taking a break from Argentina and insists he will be available for as long as he is wanted by manager Gerardo Martino, despite feeling that some of the criticism is unwarranted, per Argentina's TyC Sports (h/t Marca):

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We've reached two finals in a row, and that's not easy. Unfortunately we didn't win anything, but I think what we did deserves a lot of credit: reaching a World Cup final, a Copa America final. That's no small feat. Obviously everyone would have loved to have won both of them or even just one of them, but it wasn't possible. I think a lot of criticism has been levelled at us and I don't think it's warranted. Even if we didn't win any trophies, I think what we did deserves a lot of credit

I'll be here (with Argentina) for as long as the manager wants me. Beyond all the disappointments we've suffered after not winning anything in all the time I've been playing for Argentina, I think we've come really close. We have new objectives ahead of us. We have more opportunities and we have to keep fighting. Like I said, as long as the manager wants me, I'm never going to say no.

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Messi was certainly an asset for Argentina in their two recent friendlies in the international break as he scored three goals and engineered a remarkable late comeback in the 2-2 draw with Mexico.

He has started uncharacteristically slowly in the new La Liga season—he has been goalless in Barca's opening two matches—but that is unlikely to last long.

With United back in the Champions League, Messi and Rooney may just meet again depending on how things unfold in the 2015-16 season.