At 30, where does Wayne Rooney stand among the greats of the English game?
Ahead of his 30th birthday on Saturday, the view of Wayne Rooney as a player whose career, though hugely successful, has not quite fulfilled its early promise is being quietly reappraised.
The Manchester United and England captain may no longer be the force of nature of his teens, but the dawn of his fourth decade brings the achievements of his 13-year professional career into sharp focus.
History has already judged him, because when you pick up the record books, there will be the name of Wayne Rooney
He has won nine major honours, is England’s all-time leading scorer and looks set to become United’s, and while on the international stage he has never recaptured the heights of his breakthrough tournament at Euro 2004, few English footballers have dominated the sporting landscape for so long.
“History has already judged him, because when you pick up the record books, there will be the name of Wayne Rooney,” David Moyes, Rooney’s former manager at Everton and United, told the Daily Mirror recently.
“He’s already surpassed Sir Bobby Charlton as England’s leading goal-scorer and I’m sure he will go on to do the same at United.
“For Wayne to be breaking records at his age is remarkable – and he’s not finished yet.”