Wayne Rooney's Accomplishments Put Him in Historic Company

Manchester United's 1-0 loss against Everton on Monday marked Wayne Rooney's 10th year in the English Premier League, but it feels like the Red Devil attacker has been around for much longer than that.

His accomplishments on the pitch resonate through every emphatic goal that has ever left his foot. In the past decade Rooney has appeared in 443 games. That includes all competitions. Over that span he's found the net 199 times.

In case you couldn't guess just by looking at it, that's a big deal.

It's such a big deal that you can put him next to many of the English Premier League's all-time greats.

Former Red Devil and Leeds United attacker Eric Cantona scored 165 goals in 439 career appearances.

Dennis Bergkamp scored 272 goals in his illustrious 19-year football career (111 in EPL), but it took him 734 appearances to get there. Rooney may never match his CAP total, but that goal tally is certainly reachable in a shorter span of time.

Rooney isn't the greatest of all time yet. Strikers like Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer still trump him with their magnificent goal scoring, but he's right there with any list of attackers you could possibly assemble.

He's done so in a relatively short period of time, and he's only 26 years old. Rooney recently told ESPN that he hopes to play for another 10 years.

Rooney has patrolled Manchester United's attack since 2004, and for two years with Everton prior to that, with a unquenchable desire for goals.

He plays hard, works hard and strikes the ball harder. His aggressive mentality and bullish demeanor make up for any shortcomings he may or may not have in terms of speed or agility.

Rooney isn't just good for right now. At age 26, he's already landed himself in elite company. The English Premier League is the best in the world, and that's no small accomplishment.

Whether you're a Red Devils fan or not, there's no denying Rooney's phenomenal ability. Since arriving in 2003 he's captivated British soccer fans with a plethora of goals in international competition—29 to be exact—and he doesn't appear to be slowing down.

Enjoy this career while it lasts, people. We are watching a legend take the pitch every time Rooney walks onto the field, and his legacy grows with each appearance he makes.

By the time his career closes its final chapter, there's no telling where he will stand among the world's all-time scorers. His 10-year career is something that several 15-year veterans yearn for, but never reach.