Cristiano Ronaldo has reignited his long-running rivalry with former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney, taking a subtle but pointed dig at him during a new interview with British journalist Piers Morgan. Softfootball earlier revealed that the Portuguese star teased the interview, and now details from the interview are beginning to surface.
In a teaser clip from Morgan’s upcoming interview, set to air on Piers Morgan Uncensored on November 4, the Portuguese superstar appeared visibly irked when informed that Rooney had once again picked Lionel Messi as the greatest footballer of all time (GOAT), a debate that has split fans and pundits for over a decade. The video was uploaded via the Piers Morgan Podcast X handle.
Watch the video below:
The Portuguese superstar, who shared the pitch with Rooney for five seasons between 2004 and 2009, expressed open disagreement when informed of Rooney’s comments. Despite insisting there was no personal problem between them, Ronaldo made it clear he disagreed with Rooney’s preference for Messi, saying he didn’t feel the need to be humble about his own greatness.
He said:
I don’t agree with Wayne Rooney. I don’t want to be humble.
This renewed tension between the two United legends has once again brought the long-running GOAT debate back into the spotlight. Rooney, speaking earlier on The Overlap, explained that while both players are phenomenal and among the best to ever play the game, he leans towards Messi because of his flair and natural creativity. That reasoning, however, clearly didn’t sit well with Ronaldo, who has never been shy about asserting his place at the top of football’s history books.
The upcoming interview also stirs memories of Ronaldo’s explosive 2022 conversation with Morgan, where he made controversial remarks that led to his Manchester United exit. At the time, he appeared to mock Rooney, calling him and others “rats” for criticising him publicly.
Now at Al Nassr, Ronaldo remains as outspoken as ever, using his platform to defend his achievements and legacy, something that some are questioning if his achievements are overshadowing his team and if Al Nassr are too dependent on his brilliance. With the full interview yet to air, fans are already bracing for more bold claims and fiery statements as Ronaldo once again fuels one of football’s most talked-about rivalries both on and off the pitch.
