Rooney is set to make his 50th European appearance when Manchester United entertain German champions Wolfsburg.
He started his Champions League career with a hat-trick against Fenerbahce.
Although there have been moments Rooney has cause to regret, not least his red card for sarcastically applauding referee Kim Milton Nielsen in Villarreal, and there were plenty of occasions when he was upstaged by former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, at no point has the 23-year-old given Ferguson any other belief than he is destined for the top.
The United boss feels Rooney has some work to do before he can be put into the same bracket as Kaka and Ronaldo, who were crowned world player of the year in the last two seasons, and Lionel Messi, who is set to receive the honour this autumn.
But he has no doubts the Merseysider will get there eventually.
"Wayne could easily get to that level," said Ferguson.
"It was a pretty remarkable feat to get that hat-trick and his progress has never disappointed us at any point since.
"When we signed him as a kid, we thought he would become a really top player. Without question he is going in that direction.
"He is blessed with some ingredients only great footballers have.
"He has a great determination and hunger to win every match and every training session. That will never change.
Rooney determination
"Sometimes there is criticism about the amounts footballers get paid. But when you see the effort he puts in, he is worth every penny.
"He plays as if he means it. It is a wonderful thing to have."
Jonny Evans was able to verify that assessment of Rooney's competitive spirit. Less sure is the Northern Ireland international about his team-mate's ability to fill a central defensive role.
"Wayne is a nightmare," he said.
"He is always complaining and he always wants to win.
"His form has been great this season. He is playing through the middle now and is probably in his most favourite position.
"I don't think he can play centre-half though. All the lads try different positions. Berbatov did it yesterday. He was awful."
Unwittingly, Evans got both himself and his girlfriend drawn into a debate Fabio Capello triggered about Rooney a couple of weeks ago.
The England coach has claimed marriage has been a benefit to Rooney, something that would be manna from heaven for Ferguson, who has always espoused the settling effects having a wife can have.
Currently single Evans - and his girlfriend, who was part of the press conference having just begun a week's work placement with host broadcaster ITV - listened intently, until the focus changed and had the young defender squirming.
Ferguson view
"I don't want to talk about it," he said.
"My girlfriend is sat there in the middle of you all."
Ferguson though was warming to his theme.
"Marriage helps footballers," said the Scot.
"It is good for the stability of a footballer to get married. They settle down. You know where they are."
And then, isolating his target: "Get him tied down dear. Rings are cheap now."
Evans was glad when the subject changed, with Ferguson confirming Park Ji-sung had been ruled out after picking up a virus.
Not that the South Korean's absence should cause United much trouble.
Wolfsburg are expected to be the Reds' main challengers for group supremacy, with strikers Grafite and Edin Dzeko a particular threat given the Germans' free-scoring ways.
Any foe from the Bundesliga needs to be respected. But in the end, Ferguson expects United to form part of another strong English challenge for a tournament they have dominated for the last three years.
"Real Madrid's signings in the summer have created a bit of a flutter in Spain and they are getting a bit excited over there again," he said.
"But I see no reason why the English clubs will not be there again."
What do you think? Have your say.
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 24 and replies | View All
Alias Smith, over the moon (29/09/2009 at 22:53)
Red Culture (29/09/2009 at 23:40)
The truth is Fergie is right Rooney is not there yet.
RemiMoses, Ireland (30/09/2009 at 06:23)
OpenshawBoy, Canada (30/09/2009 at 07:06)
However, the success of Real Madrid in the early years of the European Cup contradicts my theory, as they had runaway success for many years, but back then they were the only club in the world that did that, nowadays many try to emulate (Buy) their dominence with little overall success.
As for Rooney, well I have always been one that thought he was born to be a football star. He has qualities in his character that just can't be taught, and coupled with the fire in his belly, that many opponents have physically experienced over the years, that success can't be too far away.
Ron had other gifts, but most of the tricks he had that enthralled us so much were the payoff from hours upon hours of practice. Granted he had to have the skill, coordination and belief to pull them off, and if Rooney decided to spend as much time as Ron in perfecting those tricks I have no doubt that he could emulate his former teammate.
Where Rooney's path to greatness may not be as quick as Ron, Kaka or Messi, one part of his greatness was his willingness to put the team before himself and play second fiddle to Ron's orchestra of tricks, and rightly so at the time. But if the shoe was on the other foot, would Ron have put the team first? I think we all know the naswer to that.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not slagging Ron here, merely pointing out a few home truths. In the case of Kaka and Messi, I think they would be more team oriented, but never having been able to follow their progress to the same extent as Ronnie, I can only surmise.
Anyhow, here's hoping for an English sweep of the Champions League once more, which would be all the more sweet should United win it and Rooney become the next recipient of English, European and World Player of the Year.
manc abroad, OT (30/09/2009 at 07:08)
Derrick East (30/09/2009 at 07:35)
tooth&claw, manchester (30/09/2009 at 10:10)
Does the award actually mean that he IS in the top three players in the world? No. There have been many winners and runners-up who haven't been near the top three players.
My personal view is that Rooney is fractionally outside the top three players in the world and will be in the top three by the end of this campaign.
The Devil's Advocate, M11 born and bred, East Stand Lower 104 (30/09/2009 at 10:14)
Alias Smith, over the moon (30/09/2009 at 11:23)
Matt Squires (30/09/2009 at 12:26)
As for Rooney, he gets better by the season and now the focus is on him instead of Ronaldo, I think he will continue (while other players might fold under the spotlight)
DonR (30/09/2009 at 12:30)
bobbydazzler (30/09/2009 at 12:30)
nyb, ex manc (30/09/2009 at 13:19)
Messi is a smashing player but well over rated. The Premier League would find him out just like Deco, Schevchenko and the rest.
Stephen Irelands Nana , Salford (30/09/2009 at 13:21)
Red or Dead, Manchester (30/09/2009 at 14:30)
BALL AND BAT, ALL OVER (30/09/2009 at 14:53)
Whaley Bridge cynic. (30/09/2009 at 15:01)
Private Fraser, Warmington-On-Sea (30/09/2009 at 16:06)
Tomas, Aarhus, Denmark (30/09/2009 at 17:53)
As for Ronaldo and Messi - Rooney is probably not quite there yet, allthough we have to judge him slitghtly differently than the others, since he's not a showboat like them. He doesn't have all the fancy trick, but his game intelligence and vision is way beyond their's - reasons being his lack of tricks. That's typical in players - they develop certain assetts to their game, and since Rooney can't go past 3 players in a phone booth, he's developed the other parts.
Rooney is by far the most versatile players of the lot. Ronaldo is second, and Messi really only has one position - at least if he wants to score goals. Ronaldo has the most weapons, and far more than any other player - strength, two feet, set pieces, heading, positioning, speed, clinical finishing. Those are reasons, why he became one of the most dangerous players ever in the PL. Messi would do fine in England, but he'd get kicked about, because he doesn't have Ronaldo's strength.
Rooney can play any position and do well - partly because of versatility, partly because of hunger and partly because of humbleness - those are three qualities that noone matches him on. He's all about winning, and he knows, the team wins and not him individually.
Rooney will make the 30 goal mark this season - no question about that - but it won't give him the votes for best player, and it might never happen for him, because he's simply less spectacular that the others (Ronaldo and Messi), who are just about the same age. But he's easily a more valuable player on any random team than the others.
Godiah Imbukuleh (30/09/2009 at 19:05)
Ged McCity, Oldham (30/09/2009 at 22:23)
DonR (01/10/2009 at 10:46)
Duncan, London (01/10/2009 at 11:34)
Gbenga Giwa (06/10/2009 at 11:06)