Zlatan Ibrahimovic Credits Wayne Rooney for Boosting Cristiano Ronaldo's Career

Zlatan Ibrahimovic once said that Cristiano Ronaldo owes much of his career to a legendary English player and Manchester United star.

Ronaldo's Rise Began at Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo's journey started at Sporting Lisbon, but he truly became a global star during his time at Manchester United. The winger dazzled at Old Trafford, winning three Premier League titles and the Champions League before moving to Real Madrid. In Spain, he scored a record 450 goals in 438 appearances, added four more Champions League titles, and won two La Liga crowns. Now 41, Ronaldo has also netted over 100 goals for both Juventus and Al-Nassr later in his career. With 146 goals in 234 matches for Portugal, he holds the record for the most goals by any male international player.

Ibrahimovic Highlights Rooney's Unseen Contributions

Back in 2015, Zlatan gave credit to Wayne Rooney for playing a key role in Ronaldo’s success. According to Zlatan, Rooney was the hard worker who sacrificed a lot while Ronaldo took the spotlight. He said:

"When Cristiano Ronaldo played at United, Rooney did all the work but Cristiano took all the glory. He was the one who was getting the goals. Rooney ran, fought and made far more of a team sacrifice than the player from Madeira."

Zlatan praised Rooney's consistent high level of performance, adding:

"Great players have exceptional phases that last from between one to three years, it’s not normal that this phase lasts five years as in the case with Rooney."

Zlatan’s Time at Manchester United and His Admiration for Rooney

Ibrahimovic eventually joined Manchester United in 2016, sharing the pitch with Rooney during his first season. He helped the club win the League Cup and Europa League, scoring 29 goals and providing 10 assists across 53 games before leaving in 2018.

He consistently admired Rooney, calling him "a fantastic footballer" who worked tirelessly for his teammates. Zlatan noted in 2013:

"He is the player who helps his partner score lots of goals because he is working for one, two and maybe three other players. It seems like he has a strong mentality to win - like me he doesn't like to lose."

After playing alongside Rooney, Zlatan called him "the perfect player," praising what he had accomplished and his well-known abilities.

How Ibrahimovic’s Arrival Influenced Rooney’s Departure

Interestingly, Ibrahimovic's move to Manchester United played a part in Rooney leaving the club. Rooney reflected on that time, saying:

"The hardest thing for a player is to understand you may be not at the level you were. I did it when Zlatan Ibrahimovic came in and I wasn't playing. I wanted to play so I left straight away. I accepted it."

Rooney left United in 2017, finishing with 253 goals. He remains the only Premier League player to have both 200 goals and 100 assists, which explains why Zlatan held him in such high regard.

• Ronaldo's International Goals: 146 in 234 games for Portugal
• Ronaldo's Record at Real Madrid: 450 goals in 438 appearances
• Rooney's Total Goals for Manchester United: 253
• Rooney's Premier League Milestone: Only player with 200+ goals and 100+ assists
• Ibrahimovic's Manchester United Stats: 29 goals and 10 assists in 53 games