"Wayne Rooney Expresses Concern: Do Portugal Stars Feel the Cristiano Ronaldo Vibe?"

WAYNE ROONEY does not believe Portugal stars enjoy playing with Cristiano Ronaldo in the same way Argentines do with Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo, 41, has started all five of ‘s World Cup games thus far, scoring three goals.

Wayne Rooney does not see the same group dynamic when he look at Portugal and Argentina Credit: BBC Ronaldo is in the midst of his sixth World Cup campaign with Portugal Credit: Getty

But he is being outshone by a 39-year-old Messi who, with SEVEN goals in four games, is charging for the Golden Boot.

Messi is absolutely indispensable to but Rooney, who shared a dressing room with Ronaldo for five seasons, does not get quite the same feeling when he looks at CR7 and Portugal.

The pundit said: “You always put Ronaldo and Messi together because they are two of the best players the game has ever seen.

“But the Argentinian lads seem like they’re all there for Messi. They’re all behind him. Messi has obviously been fantastic at this World Cup.

“I don’t get that vibe from the Portuguese players.”

Some have even suggested that Portugal boss would be wise to drop Ronaldo – who is not as mobile as he used to be – for the good of the team.

The veteran forward was subbed in the 81st minute against in the last 32 before Goncalo Ramos, who started on the bench, bagged a late winner.

And even Rooney admits that more than two decades at the top level might be starting to catch up with his former team-mate.

Lionel Messi has been on fire in North America Credit: Getty Rooney and Ronaldo spent five seasons as team-mates in Manchester Credit: Getty

He added: “We saw go against Ronaldo and the backlash that came with it.

“For Martinez it’s not just Ronaldo, it’s a legacy, it’s everything that goes with it.

“If I put myself in Martinez’s shoes, he has got to ask himself if he has any regrets, and I think he might do if he sticks with him.

“Sometimes age gets you and it looks like it has a little bit.”