Sir Alex Ferguson says Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were the best in Europe

Published: 9 October 2026 · 09:07 GST

Sir Alex Ferguson has reflected on his Manchester United years by saying Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were the two best players in Europe for a period when they were at their peak together, according to ESPN FC.

The remarks revisit one of the most recognisable attacking partnerships of Ferguson’s Old Trafford era. ESPN FC reported that the former United manager singled out the pair in assessing their level during that spell, presenting them as the outstanding players in Europe at the time.

Ronaldo and Rooney both played under Ferguson at Manchester United, where they were part of a side that delivered major honours across the period in which they were teammates. Ferguson’s comments, as reported by ESPN FC, focus on the quality of the players themselves rather than on any one match or season.

The statement also fits into the wider legacy of Ferguson’s long tenure at Manchester United, where several elite attackers developed into leading names in European football. In this case, the headline assessment was clear: for Ferguson, Ronaldo and Rooney stood above the rest during their peak years together.

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