In the aftermath of Manchester City’s stunning 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the 2025 FA Cup final, former Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney delivered a pointed critique of City’s star striker, Erling Haaland, questioning whether the Norwegian phenom can ever reach the lofty heights of football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The match, decided by Eberechi Eze’s 16th-minute strike, saw Haaland make a surprising decision that sparked heated debate: he handed penalty duties to teammate Omar Marmoush, whose spot-kick was saved by Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson. Rooney’s analysis, rooted in this pivotal moment, paints a vivid contrast between Haaland’s mentality and the unrelenting drive of Ronaldo and Messi, igniting discussions about what truly defines greatness in the beautiful game.
The FA Cup final at Wembley was a tale of missed opportunities for Manchester City, who dominated possession but faltered in crucial moments. Haaland, typically the team’s designated penalty taker, had a golden chance to level the score after Bernardo Silva was fouled by Tyrick Mitchell in the box. Yet, in a move that stunned onlookers, the 24-year-old passed the ball to Marmoush, only two games back from injury himself. Henderson, anticipating Marmoush’s shot, made a heroic save, preserving Palace’s lead and securing their first-ever FA Cup triumph. “I knew which way he was going. I knew I’d save it,” Henderson later boasted, reflecting on his Wembley heroics, which included a controversial VAR-reviewed handball incident earlier in the match that spared him a red card.
Rooney, speaking as a pundit, seized on Haaland’s decision as a defining moment. “Erling Haaland is a world-class forward, but when we’re talking about Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, there’s no way they’re giving that ball away,” he declared. For Rooney, this act of deference highlighted a critical difference: the “selfish” determination of Messi and Ronaldo to seize every goal-scoring opportunity, a trait he believes sets them apart from Haaland and other modern stars like Kylian Mbappé. “They want to score every game,” Rooney emphasized, suggesting that Haaland’s willingness to relinquish responsibility under pressure reveals a mental fragility. “Maybe the thought of taking a penalty at Wembley might have been too much for him. You never know, he’s a human being,” he added, acknowledging the emotional weight of the moment.
Haaland’s 2025 season has been a mixed bag by his lofty standards. Despite netting 30 goals in 42 appearances, his campaign has been marred by an eight-game injury absence and a dip in form, with City languishing in sixth place in the Premier League with just 65 points. The FA Cup loss, a bitter blow in a trophy-less season, amplified scrutiny on Haaland, whose penalty decision baffled manager Pep Guardiola. “I thought he would want to take it,” Guardiola admitted, noting that the players made the call on the pitch. “In that moment, it’s about how you feel.” Haaland’s visible frustration after missed chances, Rooney argued, further betrays a vulnerability that Messi and Ronaldo rarely displayed, even in their toughest moments.
The comparison to Messi and Ronaldo is not new for Haaland, whose goal-scoring exploits have invited parallels since his 52-goal debut season at City in 2022-23. At 24, he’s outpaced both legends’ tallies at the same age, with 256 goals in 313 senior appearances compared to Messi’s 140 and Ronaldo’s 102. Yet, as Rooney once noted in 2023, praising Haaland as “the best footballer in the world right now,” it’s the intangibles—mentality, longevity, and clutch performance—that elevate Messi and Ronaldo to untouchable status. Their 13 combined Ballons d’Or and relentless pursuit of individual glory, even in high-stakes scenarios, set a benchmark Haaland has yet to match.
City’s defeat also stirred broader controversy, with Rooney calling for VAR’s abolition after Henderson’s unpunished handball. “It’s a 100% red card,” he insisted, reflecting the frustration felt by City fans. For Haaland, the focus remains on redemption as City face two critical Premier League matches to secure Champions League qualification. Rooney’s critique, while harsh, serves as a challenge: to reach Messi and Ronaldo’s level, Haaland must embrace the pressure and own the spotlight, penalty or not. As the football world debates his potential, the Norwegian’s response on the pitch will determine whether he can silence doubters and carve his own legend.
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