Sir Alex Ferguson: Ronaldo and Rooney Were the Best in Europe at Manchester United

Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney scored 104 Premier League goals between them during a three-season span at Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports that Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were the two best players in Europe during their time together at Manchester United. Between 2006 and 2009, the duo led the club to three consecutive Premier League titles following a three-season drought. During this period, the pair combined for 104 Premier League goals and secured the 2008 European Cup in Moscow.

In addition to domestic league dominance, the partnership resulted in one Champions League trophy, two League Cups, and a Club World Cup. Ferguson highlighted a March 2007 counter-attacking goal against Bolton as a defining moment, where the two players transitioned from their own penalty area to Jussi Jääskeläinen’s net in under 10 seconds. The sequence involved multiple exchanges between the 6-foot-2 Portuguese winger and the forward from Liverpool, ending in a chipped finish over the goalkeeper.

Individual accolades peaked in 2008 when Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or, the European Golden Boot, FIFA Best Men's Player, and UEFA Best Player. The partnership concluded in 2009 when Ronaldo transferred to Real Madrid for a then world-record fee.