I miss playing with him — Cristiano Ronaldo opens up on ex-Manchester United teammate

Cristiano Ronaldo has played with some real superstars over more than two decades, while chasing Europe’s top trophies.

At 40, the Portuguese icon is still thriving, leading Portugal to the 2025 UEFA Nations League title and topping the Saudi Pro League scoring chart with 25 goals in 40 games for Al-Nassr.

Ronaldo has few regrets over his 22-year career. Reflecting on his first Manchester United stint (2003-2009) in a TNT Sports interview back in 2016, he shared what he missed most—playing with Wayne Rooney.

The 5-time Ballon d'Or winner praised Rooney, saying,

“The power of Wayne Rooney is his mentality and his strength - he never stops. He’s a fantastic team player, and he scores goals. We won every trophy - the Premier League, the Carling Cup, the Champions League.

"He was fantastic, and he helped me a lot when he came to join us in Manchester. I miss playing with him.”

Under Sir Alex Ferguson, the pair made 205 appearances together, winning three Premier League titles, four domestic cups, and the 2008 Champions League. Ronaldo also secured the 2008 Premier League Golden Boot, with Rooney assisting several times along the way.

Both legends are reportedly no longer close friends, but the admiration and respect remains strong.