FIFA World Cup 2010: Who is more likely to succeed, Rooney or Messi

article by Suresh Iyer

Lionel Messi, the star striker for Barcelona and Argentina, celebrates his 23rd birthday, on June 24, while the FIFA World Cup 2010 is on. Wayne Rooney, his colleague at Manchester United and England, is turning 25 in October.

Hence the question:. Who is more likely fired from the 2010 World Cup with his performance, Rooney or Messi?

There are some differences, too:. To begin, Messi is slightly built and 5’7 “tall, Rooney is three inches longer, and built like a bull

Championships Won:.

Rooney won eight titles, all for Manchester United, including the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup once each.

Both players have a large number of individual prizes. Messi would have particularly enjoyed winning the World Soccer Player of the Year award, 2009. Rooney, on his side, would have enjoyed being named the 2010 PFA Players’ Player of the Year.

Fittingly, both players are among the highest paid in their respective leagues. Rooney has a number of commercial endorsements, except for a lucrative book deal with Harper Collins

Personal notes:.

Both players have flowed approvals of the players and managers Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, England player, Steven Gerrard, Chelsea boss, Ancel Lotti. Mark Lorenson, Argentina player, Tevez, Rooney’s Man U teammate, Wes Brown, David Beckham and former England strikers Shearer and Lineker are all unanimous in their belief that Rooney is the best player in the world.

Brazilian midfielder Kaka, his Argentina teammates, Deco and Riquelme, Barcelona boss Laporta, Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola, FC Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner and Denmark international, Real Madrid striker Arjen Robben and Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger are permanent fans of Amon Messi’s. In fact, La Porta says that Messi is the best player of all time. Maradona anointed Messi as his successor, while Pele who predicted that Messi would be the FIFA best player award in 2009 to get , says Messi must first establish the best Argentine player ever, and also score goals in 1000, before he can replace the Brazilian legend as the best ever

Strengths:.

Rooney is fast and strongly built, and uses his physical strength to get past defenders. It’s comfortable to play through the middle, and can operate on its own at the front. He is naturally gifted and very opportunistic, and inventive. He revels in unleashing powerful bursts from the top of the box. Rooney owes his physical strength to four years spent in amateur boxing. Although a striker, he excels in deep, and capitalizes on its close control and power when running at defenders, even if vision is used to create openings for others.

Messi may be the best dribbler in the world, and can dance his way through defenses. He has, in a club game replicated Maradona’s goal against England in the `1986 quarterfinals, dribbling past six players and running the same distance as the Argentine legend did on that occasion. Messi shows typical South American flair, and his goals come from close in the box, and do not depend so much on strength as on deception and precision

Weak points:.

Rooney’s injury prone. He also has a fondness for his hot head shown. Messi also has injury problems. There are no noticeable weaknesses in his game, but could Nitpicker that he was not as successful for Barcelona can in away games,. as he is in home games too, Messi is still potential to play for Argentina – the team had a mediocre show in qualifying Could he not have as great a supporting cast in the national team as. in Barcelona, ​​the will of Xavi, Pedro and combined well with Messi has Pichichi

In contrast, Rooney is productive for England, with 25 strikes in a little over twice the games. There are critics who claim that Rooney is over-rated and will probably deserved to meet whenever he meets a strong South American team. The best way to resolve doubts for Rooney to run on the field. To his credit, Rooney scored a goal in a 3 -2 win in a friendly against Argentina in 2005

Recent form: ..

Both players are in a great shape in 2010, Rooney has had 34 goals from 44 appearances for Man U, Messi and 47 goals in 53 appearances

Forecasts World Cup 2010:.

While relatively unimpressive record Messi for Argentina is an argument used against him, he had a goal against Croatia in World Cup 2006. In contrast, Rooney had a lackluster goal-less outing in Germany, in 2006, playing in the shadow of the injury to his shameful red-card exit in the quarter-finals. But all that will be history , when the tournament starts in South Africa, is June 11.