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Wayne Rooney Sides with Eden Hazard’s Take on Cristiano Ronaldo Not Being ‘Better’ in ‘Pure Football Terms’ – “Doesn’t Care About Anything Else, Just Goals!”

Published 02/17/2024, 7:30 AM EST

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A gigantic career spanning more than two decades and 1200 games was brought into question by Eden Hazard. Cristiano Ronaldo may have scored more than 850 goals, but did he enjoy the journey rather than the destination? Wayne Rooney and Eden Hazard do not believe so. After Hazard’s claim that Ronaldo is not better than him in terms of gameplay, Rooney seconds the thought by explaining what makes him lesser than Hazard in terms of ‘pure football.’

Cristiano Ronaldo’s passion for the game knows no limits. The Portuguese captain revealed he is not finished and will continue playing longer despite turning 39. But, although he continues to lead the teams by scoring goals, the star is still not considered as passionate as others. Probably, the Euro red card rivalry is still boiling up, eh? 

Wayne Rooney ditches former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo to support Eden Hazard

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After taking a dig at Ronaldo’s second stint at Manchester United more than a year ago, Rooney now feels he doesn’t care much about enjoying the sport. Speaking on a podcast with Youtuber Lyes Bouzidi, Rooney said, “So, for instance, Cristiano Ronaldo’s mind is just goals. He doesn’t care about anything else at goals. That’s all he wants. Where you look at Messi, for instance, he wants to play a bit more, and I’m supposed this is what Hazard saying.” The former Everton player also claimed to be like Hazard and Messi, who enjoy being with the ball more.

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The former soccer duo Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, who played for four years together and formed a great partnership, have been disagreeing for some time now. But this time, Rooney directly supports the claim that he is not the greatest player in terms of on-field play. Hazard earlier said“Cristiano is a bigger player than me, but, in terms of pure football, I honestly don’t think so.”

Cristiano Ronaldo is being claimed by many as the greatest goal scorer of all time after scoring 873 goals. Nevertheless, the best player accolade eludes the Portuguese star. Rooney also took the example of his archrival Lionel Messi, who is a reputed dribbler and also has more assists to his name.

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Moreover, Rooney also stated that rather than playing in attacking positions and finishing the goal, he prefers covering a wider area and enjoying the gameplay. He further stated, “I wanted to play football, you know, and I could have been a bit more selfish in staying up top and maybe scored a few more goals, but I wanted to play I want to enjoy the game.” On the other hand, Hazard’s comments ignited jibes from Al Nassr captain’s fans. But the Portuguese captain still cannot stop scoring goals.

WATCH THIS STORY: Cristiano Jr’s Insane Training Schedule

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Written by:

Ruthu

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Ruthu is a Soccer Writer at EssentiallySports. Growing up in a sporting background, he found a passion for soccer through the remarkable 2002 World Cup-winning Brazilian team. Ruthu brings an out-of-the-box perspective with writing, as he possesses the ability to view the game from different critical angles, a skill that sets apart a sports journalist.
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Edited by:

Jacob Gijy