Henrik Larsson (foto: Instagram)
Henrik Larsson has revealed his three greatest teammates, opting for Ronaldinho, Wayne Rooney and Chris Sutton, while leaving Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo out of his personal top three.
Henrik Larsson played alongside many of the defining stars of modern football, but when asked to name the three best teammates of his career, the former Sweden striker delivered a list that surprised many. Neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo made the cut.
Larsson wore the shirts of Celtic, Barcelona and Manchester United, and remains one of Sweden’s greatest-ever players, scoring 37 goals in 106 international appearances. Now 54, he is often described as one of the more underrated great forwards of his era, partly because he spent so much of his career surrounded by superstars.
Speaking on The Overlap podcast, Larsson explained that while he shared dressing rooms with both Messi and Ronaldo, he could not foresee the unprecedented heights they would eventually reach.
Why Messi and Ronaldo miss out
Larsson recalled that Messi, even as a teenager, possessed extraordinary technique, pace and a magical left foot, but at the time he struggled to imagine anyone surpassing Ronaldinho.
“I thought that simply wouldn’t be possible, and then something completely crazy happened,” Larsson said, also reflecting on Ronaldo’s evolution from a flashy dribbler into a ruthless goalscorer. Despite that admiration, neither ended up in his personal top three.
Ronaldinho, the embodiment of football joy
The first name on Larsson’s list was Ronaldinho. During his time at Barcelona, Larsson played alongside Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Xavi, yet it was the Brazilian who left the deepest impression.
Together they won the UEFA Champions League in 2006, and Larsson described Ronaldinho as the purest expression of football’s beauty — a player who entertained crowds while decisively shaping matches.
Rooney’s raw power at United
Second on the list was Wayne Rooney, whom Larsson joined at Manchester United. Although their time together was brief, Larsson said it was immediately clear he was witnessing something special.
According to the Swede, Rooney combined raw energy, aggression and hunger rarely seen in such a young player — qualities that later helped him become United’s all-time leading scorer.
A Celtic partnership that defined an era
The third choice was perhaps the most unexpected: Chris Sutton. Now known for his blunt television punditry, Sutton was, in Larsson’s view, a remarkably complete forward during his playing days.
At Celtic, the two formed a powerful and highly effective partnership. Larsson remembers Sutton as a striker who could do everything — score goals, link play and create space for teammates.
The mutual respect was clear years later when Sutton described Larsson as the greatest striker ever to play in the Scottish league, a tribute that underlines just how influential their partnership was.
Larsson’s selections offer a revealing insight into his football philosophy: an appreciation for joy, teamwork and impact — not just statistics or global fame.