England's 5 greatest footballers of all time

#3 Wayne Rooney

The greatest British striker of all time, Wayne Rooney was very untimely touted as “the White Pele” by a section of British media after his brilliant debut in 2004 in the European Championships. To his credit, he was not weighed down by that epithet and went on to do enough to ensure a place for himself in English football’s Hall of Fame.

Rooney was very strong physically and had superb ball-skills too. He also had a very decent shot and header on him. He played for England in 3 World Cups and 3 European Championships, but never quite fulfilled the promise he had aroused by his amazing performance in 2004. Still, he went on to score 53 goals in 120 matches for England and remains their highest goal-scorer of all time.

He also had a very successful club career and ended up as the highest goal-scorer for Manchester United, no less. He was signed from Everton as a talented 18-year-old and spent 13 seasons there. He scored 293 goals in 696 matches in his club career and replaced Bobby Charlton as United’s highest goal-scorer. Rooney won the PFA Player of the Year once, apart from winning 5 Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League title for United.

About the author

Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

Know More

Edited by Sudeshna Banerjee