Many consider the ability to score goals as the most difficult task in football, which explains why the best-paid players are often attack-minded – after all, goals win games. When discussing the most reliable finishers in football history, legends like Gerd Muller, Pele, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo come to mind. However, former Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney has a different opinion when naming the best finisher he ever played with.
Despite playing alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United, Rooney has always credited his former teammate, Ruud van Nistelrooy, as the best finisher. In a 2024 interview, Rooney spoke with certainty when he named the Dutch striker, saying, “The best one… no, no [not me], the best one I’ve seen and played with is Ruud van Nistelrooy.”
Van Nistelrooy’s incredible goal-scoring record speaks for itself: 150 goals in 219 games for Manchester United, 64 goals in 96 appearances for Real Madrid, and 77 goals in 90 games for PSV Eindhoven. His remarkable consistency made him one of the deadliest finishers in world football.
Rooney is not the only one to admire Van Nistelrooy’s lethal finishing ability. In his 2014 autobiography, “The Second Half,” club legend Roy Keane shared similar sentiments. He recalled a Champions League match against Bayern Munich, where Danny Welbeck missed a one-on-one chance, saying, “Ruud van Nistelrooy wouldn’t have missed that. Ruud was the best finisher, ever, especially in one-on-one situations.”
Keane continued: “When Ruud was going through on goal, I never doubted him. Some players might hesitate, but when Ruud was through, it felt like there was no goalkeeper.”
Both Rooney and Keane’s comments highlight the lasting impact Van Nistelrooy had at Manchester United, with the Dutchman’s sharp finishing and clinical approach making him a player admired by teammates and fans alike.
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