Wayne Rooney: Why He May Never Be Considered England's Greatest-Ever Player

It was inevitable the moment the game ended. Wayne Rooney’s brace against historic rivals Scotland in their own backyard put him just three goals behind Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time England goal-scoring record.

And just like that, the greatest-of-all-time (GOAT) debate had been reopened.

There is no doubting Rooney will overtake Charlton some time next year. At 101 England appearances after Tuesday’s friendly, the 29-year-old is also likely to break Peter Shilton’s 125-cap record before the next World Cup in 2018.

But even when—rather than if—he does hold both records, will Wayne Rooney be considered the greatest-ever footballer to play for England?

Probably not.

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Almost 12 years ago, when the 17-year-old Rooney became England’s youngest-ever player, the future looked bright.

The following summer, he became the youngest scorer in the European Championships when he slammed a double against Switzerland. He scored two more against Croatia in the same tournament and was named in UEFA’s team of the tournament.

Even though England exited the tournament in the quarter-finals, the football world was Rooney’s oyster.

However, in spite of going on to score 46 goals in 101 England appearances in the 12 years that followed, Rooney’s international career has been headlined by disciplinary charges, off-field controversies, injuries and the overall mediocrity of the England team.

His critics also argue that out of Rooney’s 46 goals for England, how many of them really mattered?

How many were scored in the World Cup, after playing in three editions? Just one. How many World Cups has he won for England? None.  

Even though he has matured well from the hot-blooded youngster who stamped on Ricardo Carvalho in the 2006 World Cup and kicked out at Miodrag Dzudovic in the Euro 2012 qualifiers, Rooney may never be able to completely erase those red-card offences from the minds of English supporters. Same goes with the infidelity controversy.

David Beckham never won a World Cup, either; he has also been red-carded in the tournament; he was accused of infidelity as well; and, like Rooney, he knows what it means to be the No. 1 national villain.

But Beckham will always be remembered as an England darling.

Beckham had the epic Old Trafford goal versus Greece. Beckham’s football had the grace and the bend. Beckham had the looks; he still does.

Charlton didn’t have the looks. But Charlton survived the Munich air disaster. Charlton’s got the goals. Charlton won the World Cup.

Rooney, meanwhile, doesn’t have the looks. Rooney doesn’t have Greece. Rooney’s football doesn’t have the grace. And Rooney doesn’t have the World Cup. Period.

Former Manchester United team-mate Paul Scholes wrote in his Paddy Power column prior to the 2014 World Cup that Rooney might have passed his peak:

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Wayne’s peak may have been a lot younger than what we’d expect of footballers traditionally. Age 28 or 29 has been the normal ‘peak’. With Wayne, it could have been when he scored 27 league goals in 2011/2012 when he was 26.

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Yet, Rooney strives on. If there is anything he does have, it is the energy and resolve to give it his 100 per cent in every game and try to induce the same from his team-mates.

From being a flashy individual striker, Rooney has evolved into an enthusiastic team player and captain, willing to fill into any position on the pitch at the expense of being present in the box to score goals.

In the last few years, Rooney has filled in the role behind the striker for the vast majority of his games. This has a lot to do with the lack of any other efficient playmaker in the teams he has played in.

Like with Manchester United, the England team feeds not only off Rooney’s passes and crosses but also off his enthusiasm and determination.

Manager Roy Hodgson, under whose supervision Rooney has scored 18 goals in 28 games, did not concur with Scholes’ assessment. Hodgson said after the Scotland match, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News:

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Over two years, he's certainly not a worse player, that's for certain. His game is improving all the time. His responsibility — there was more to his play today than the two goals. There were many positive points to his game.

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The average great player versus the great average player debate will rage on about Rooney until he retires.

He may not be the player everyone thought he would be 12 years ago. He may not win the Ballon d'Or or the World Cup. He may not ever be considered England’s greatest player no matter how many goals he scores.

But there is no doubt that he is at present the talisman of the England team, which is definitely better off with him than without.