Wayne Rooney has named Ruud van Nistelrooy as greatest finisher in football history England legend Wayne Rooney has made a bold claim, naming Ruud van Nistelrooy as the greatest finisher in football history ahead of Messi and Ronaldo. Rooney, who played alongside Van Nistelrooy at Manchester United, praised the Dutchman's exceptional goal-scoring ability. "The best one, the best one I've seen, and that was Ruud van Nistelrooy," Rooney said, when asked about the greatest finisher in football history. PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Soccer News in Nigeria from Pulse Sports Rooney and Van Nistelrooy formed a formidable striking partnership at Manchester United, playing 66 matches together. Interestingly, Van Nistelrooy outscored Rooney during their time together at Old Trafford. Despite their individual prowess, the duo's partnership coincided with a relatively challenging period for Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson. They won only 58% of their games together and secured just one trophy, the 2006 League Cup. Rooney's admiration for Van Nistelrooy's finishing ability is a big influence to the Dutchman's impressive career, which included successful spells at Manchester United and Real Madrid.