Wayne Rooney – the World's Best Striker?

Wayne Rooney is in the best form of his footballing life; and that really is saying something.

Ever since, as a sixteen year old, he scored a match-winning goal against then Premier League champions Arsenal, ending their proud 30 match unbeaten stretch, people have known Wayne Rooney was going to be something special.

At the time seemingly Everton through and through, Rooney immediately identified himself as being skilful, brave, imaginative and certainly competitive. It was a surprise to no-one when he was voted BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year at the end of 2003 - the year he made his England debut in a friendly against Australia.

It was a big decision for an eighteen year old to make to leave Everton and join the might of Manchester United in 2004. After all, he was loved at Goodison Park and his family were all loyal supporters.

To go to a club where the pressure is as great as it is at Old Trafford and then have to justify the highest ever fee paid for a player under 20 years old - nearly £26 million -could have been too intimidating for many young players.

Not Wayne Rooney, though. Most people will remember the hat-trick he scored on his United debut against Fenerbahce in the Champions League when he fully signalled his arrival.

And from then on, he has gone from strength to strength; which is a good analogy, really. Strength, after all, is a large part of Wayne's game – physical and mental. Because of his strong competitive spirit and physical strength, he has often been guilty of going just over the edge and finding himself in trouble with officials.

He does seem, though, to be developing, as a mature 24 year old, the mental strength to cope with the pressures better.

So why is Wayne Rooney in the best form of his footballing life? That maturity might well have a lot to do with it. His initially much ridiculed relationship and marriage with Coleen has also given him stability and security off the field.

On the pitch, Rooney has clearly responded to his manager's calls for people to step up and fill the gap left by the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid. He is scoring goals and obviously relishing in the responsibility of being the focus of the team's attacks. He also is enjoying playing in far more central and advanced parts of the pitch.

The youngest player to complete 200 Premier League appearances, Wayne Rooney is no longer a 'promising youngster'. If he wants to be considered as one of the world's greatest players - up there with Ronaldo, Messi and the like – then he needs to be playing with the awareness, skill and dedication he is showing at the moment.

Manchester United and England supporters will wish him all the best and want this form to continue right through to the World Cup Final in Johannesburg on 11th July, 2010.

Check out Wayne Rooney for yourself by reserving tickets for Manchester United fixtures at Old Trafford. Supplied by an official ticket agent for the club, packages include hotel accommodation.