become a "world-class" player, says Queens Park Rangers
midfielder Joey Barton.
Rooney, 28, recently signed a new contract that puts him among the
highest-paid players in football.
But Barton - an admirer of Rooney - said his mental approach
leaves him behind the world's best on the pitch.
"Look at his approach and mentality compared to Cristiano
Ronaldo's. Polar opposites," he told BBC Radio 5 live.
The 31-year-old added: "Rooney potentially, could have been world
class. But why is Ronaldo a Ballon d'Or winner and Rooney isn't?
"Players who have worked with both say the level of discipline
Ronaldo has is the reason he is the best player in the world."
Barton stressed that although he considers Rooney to be "the
epitome of a class Englishman", he feels players such as Real
Madrid forward Ronaldo are more deserving of the 'world class'
label.
"When you see Rooney smoking cigarettes," Barton continued, "is he
doing everything he can to be the best player in the world? The gulf
is getting wider but if it was on talent alone, Rooney is a better
player than him."
Since making his senior debut for Everton at the age of 16 in August
2002, Rooney has gone on to win five Premier League titles, two
League Cups, three FA Cups and the Champions League and Fifa
World Club Cup once with United, who he joined for £25.6m in
2004.
But Barton said he believes Rooney falling short of his potential was
part of a wider problem within English football, adding that Roy
Hodgson's England side have "no chance at the World Cup," and
that "no-one believes we can win it - the manager, the media, the
players."
The former Manchester City and Newcastle player also added that
he "would have sacked Greg Dyke on the spot" for a cut-throat
gesture the FA chairman made as England were placed in Group D
alongside Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica during the draw in Brazil on
6 December.
Barton was speaking to Sir Clive Woodward in a 5 live programme
Sir Clive Woodward Meets to be broadcast at 19.30 BST on
Thursday 3 April.
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