‘Messi is the greatest ever,’ says Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford

He’s days away from attending his first World Cup finals and Marcus Rashford’s mind is very much on the world’s great players – both past and present.

Sixteen years ago Manchester United forward Rashford was just four years old and barely able to kick a football, but a quirky buzz cut on a gifted player named Ronaldo left a lasting impression on him while watching the 2002 World Cup.

“I think watching the Brazil team with the likes of Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and those type of players was one of my favorite experiences,” the Manchester United star tells CNN Sport in an exclusive interview.

The 20-year-old Rashford is aware of the historical greatness of Brazil’s tournament winners in contrast to England’s World Cup fragility – their one and only World Cup final win came in 1966.

“England haven’t given us many memories yet, have they?” Rashford asks rhetorically.

England failed to escape its group at Brazil in 2014, scoring just two goals in three games against Costa Rica, Uruguay and Italy. It was the team’s worst showing since failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.

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Focus

Though he has notched a modest three goals in 19 senior international appearances so far, Rashford showed his ability to conjure something out of nothing in England’s final warmup game against Costa Rica, beating Keylor Navas from distance with an arrowing strike into the top corner.

He is also coming off an effective club campaign, scoring 13 goals and feeding nine assists for Jose Mourinho’s side, which finished second in the English Premier League. Rashford notched both goals in a 2-1 home win against Liverpool in March, a season highlight that went far towards securing his England spot.

Rashford is set to compliment strikers Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy, along with United teammate Jesse Lingard in Russia, and likes England’s chances.

“I think we’re focused more now,” he says. “We’re at a stage where we go out and do what we spoke about and what the plan is.

One of the highlights of Rashford's 2017/2018 season was his two goals against rivals Liverpool.

“Everything’s more in place now than it has been in the past,” Rashford notes of England manager Gareth Southgate’s side, “so all we have to do is focus on the football.”

One player who will not be by his side is former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney, who Rashford calls “a legend” and the best player he’s teamed with.

England’s career leading scorer with 53 goals retired from international competition last season.

St. Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg —

Designed by late Japanese architect Kisho Kurosawa to look like a spaceship, the brand new St. Petersburg Stadium was built on Krestovsky Island where the 110,000-capacity Kirov Stadium used to stand.

St. Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg —

Opened in April 2017, the stadium is equipped with a retractable roof and sliding pitch. Inside, the temperature can be regulated to a mild 59 degrees Fahrenheit (15 C) all year round.

St. Petersburg Stadium World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16, semifinal, third-place playoff
Legacy: The 67,000-seater will regain its former name -- Krestovsky Stadium -- and be home to 2007-08 UEFA Cup winners Zenit St. Petersburg.

Ekaterinburg Stadium, Yekaterinburg —

Located 1,000 miles east of Moscow on the site of the old Central Stadium -- once a prominent speed skating venue -- the Ekaterinburg Stadium has retained its original Soviet neo-Classical pillars while adding modern refurbishments and temporary stands.

Ekaterinburg Stadium, Yekaterinburg —

The additional seats, constructed outside of the original stadium, loom dramatically at either end of the pitch in order to fulfill FIFA's minimum World Cup capacity of 35,000. Recent inspection reports have shown the temporary stands "fully comply with all safety and security requirements," according to a FIFA spokesperson.

Ekaterinburg Stadium World Cup schedule: Group stage
Legacy: FC Ural, one of Russia's oldest clubs newly promoted to the country's top tier, will continue to use the stadium for its home games. After the World Cup, the capacity will be reduced and it will once again be known as Central Stadium.

Fisht Stadium, Sochi —

The Fisht Stadium held the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics and is already well-equipped for the demands of a major international football tournament.

Fisht Stadium, Sochi —

Named after Mount Fisht, a peak in the nearby Caucasus mountain range, the arena's roof was designed to resemble a snow-capped summit.

Fisht Stadium World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16, quarterfinals
Legacy: The 47,700-capacity venue will stage training camps and competitive matches for the Russian national team.

Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow —

It was home to the 1980 Summer Olympics, 2008 Champions League final, 2013 Athletics World Championships and no shortage of musical tours, from Michael Jackson to the Rolling Stones...

Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow —

Now the Luzhniki Stadium has been refurbished -- with the athletics track removed and two extra tiers added -- while preserving its historical facade.

Luzhniki Stadium World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16, semifinal, final
Legacy: The 81,006-seater will retain its status as the country's leading football stadium, hosting competitive international matches and friendlies.

Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad —

Built in the heart of Kaliningrad on Oktyabrsky Island -- a section of land sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania left largely untouched until its selection as a World Cup venue -- the Kaliningrad stadium is loosely based on the design of Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena.

Kaliningrad Stadium, Kaliningrad —

Kaliningrad Stadium World Cup schedule: Group stage
Legacy: The 35,000-seater stadium will have its capacity reduced by 10,000 and be home to second-tier side FC Baltika Kaliningrad. A new residential development will be built around it featuring parks, quays and embankments alongside the Pregola river.

Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don —

Located about 20 miles from the Sea of Azov in south eastern Russia, the brand new Rostov Arena is 51m tall -- as high as the Niagra Falls.

Rostov Arena World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16
Legacy: As one of the first major projects built on the southern bank of the Don River, architects hope the 45,000-seater stadium will attract a flow of people and investment from the north. It will also host Russian Premier League side FC Rostov's home fixtures.

Volgograd Arena, Volgograd —

Built at the foot of the towering Mamayev Kurgan World War II memorial "The Motherland Calls" (pictured), the Volgograd Stadium will replace the demolished Central Stadium and feature an open lattice exterior structure.

Volgograd Arena World Cup schedule: Group stage
Legacy: The 45,000-seater will become the home ground of second-tier side FC Rotor Vologograd.

Spartak Stadium, Moscow —

Built to host Spartak Moscow -- the "people's team" which has made do without its own venue for almost a century -- the 43,298-seater Spartak Stadium will go on proving its worth long after the World Cup. The arena's facade features hundreds of red and white diamonds representing Spartak's logo, which change color when the Russian national side plays there.

Spartak Stadium World Cup schedule: Last 16
Legacy: As well as hosting Spartak Moscow and the national side, the stadium will provide the center piece for a new residential development.

Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod —

Situated at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers, the new Nizhny Novgorod Stadium is designed to resemble the shimmering waters that surround it. The 45,331-capacity arena sits close to the Alexander Nevsky cathedral, and with views across to the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin.

Nizhny Novgorod Stadium World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16, quarterfinals
Legacy: The stadium was intended to become the permanent home of Russian club FC Volga, replacing the Lokomotiv Stadium after the tournament. However, Volga dissolved because of financial troubles in June 2016. Instead, second tier Olympiets Nizhny Novgorod will call the new build home.

Samara Arena, Samara —

Constructed in a southeastern region renowned for its aerospace sector, the 44,807-seater Samara Arena is designed to resemble an otherworldly glass dome. By night, the whole structure will light up.

Samara Arena World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16, quarterfinals
Legacy: The 44,918-capacity stadium will be known as Cosmos Arena, hosting Russian second-tier side FC Krylia Sovetov Samara.

Featuring a striking orange, red and white exterior, construction on the 44,442-seater Mordovia Arena began in 2010. Initially hoped to be completed two years later for the 1,000th anniversary of the Mordovian people's unification with Russia's other ethnic groups, it was eventually finished in April 2018.

Mordovia Arena World Cup schedule: Group stage
Legacy: With a population of just 300,000, Saransk is the smallest of the 2018 World Cup host cities. After the tournament, some of the stadium's temporary structures will be demolished, reducing the capacity to 25,000. It will become the home of third-tier side FC Mordovia.

Kazan Arena, Kazan —

Designed by the same firm of architects as Wembley and Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, Kazan Arena was constructed to blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. Viewed from above, it is said to resemble a water-lily on the banks of the adjacent Kazanka river. The front of the stadium is dominated by a high definition screen with a total area of 3,700 meters -- the largest of its kind in the world.

Kazan Arena World Cup schedule: Group stage, last 16, quarterfinals
Legacy: Opened in 2013, it will continue to be home to Rubin Kazan, Russian Premier League champions in 2008 and 2009. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news and features

Take a tour of the 2018 Russia World Cup stadiums

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Messi vs. Ronaldo

However, Rashford’s favorite player Lionel Messi is still extremely active on the global stage, despite a brief retirement from the Argentina national team in 2016.

Add Rashford to the Team Messi camp for the all-time greatest player debate.

“Some of the stuff that he does is unbelievable,” Rashford says. “I’m a big fan of (Cristiano) Ronaldo as well, but I think Messi is the greatest ever.”

The England youngster may be getting an up-close view of the two superstars in Russia.

Should England finish top two in its group – which features Tunisia, Panama and Belgium – it could face Messi’s Argentina’s side or Ronaldo’s Portugal team in the quarterfinals.

No matter who he faces, however, look for Rashford to make the most of his chances.