Who could ever forget THAT goal against Arsenal? It was October 19th 2002 and Wayne Rooney had just introduced himself onto the Premier League stage with an almighty bang. It’s fair to say that ever since Wayne Rooney struck the net from 25-yards that day, at the tender age of only 16, the expectation that surrounded him became almost impossible for anyone to live up to. He was the brightest spark to have burst onto the scene in decades, he was our chance at success once again, he was our nation’s hope.

England have produced some of the most gifted players in the history of the game since football began. The likes of David Beckham, Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker to name just a fraction, will forever go down as some of the countries greatest ever. But all of England’s greats, bar one group back in 1966, have one thing in common. They have failed to win a major international tournament.

It has tormented the nation for over half a century. England’s lack of success at international football is one of the biggest tragedies in the game when you consider the extent of individual talent that has worn the white shirt. In many respects, a country’s love for a footballer comes from the amount of appearances, goals and overall performances that they provide for their viewers. A footballer being labelled as a legend is no easy feat to achieve, but there are certainly a fair few legends that have walked in and out of the England squad with no success to show for it.

So why is it that Wayne Rooney, the most capped outfield player and highest goalscorer of all time for England, as well as Manchester United’s record goalscorer, is so frequently called into question over his legendary status? This is a man who has played at the highest possible level for over fifteen years, winning absolutely all there is to win at club level and earning the respect of every opponent he has ever faced.

At 16 years-old, Wayne Rooney was billed by the media as the next best thing in football, and throughout the whole of his career the nation has watched in hope that one day their golden boy will carry England to international glory. He hasn’t, and probably never will. But this will never take away the unrivalled service that he has produced for his country. Wayne Rooney is one of, if not the best player to have ever worn the England crest. The man deserves a hell of a lot more respect for his monumental achievements at international and club level. If only the expectations of him were not so impossible to achieve on the day he made his mark.

England aside, Manchester United is a global brand watched by billions across the world. Wayne Rooney’s presence in the United squad over the last decade has been viewed by an array of fans, some of whom care only for his achievements with their beloved club. Since signing for Manchester United in 2004, Rooney has been the heartbeat of Old Trafford. He has left his mark on every competition imaginable by not just scoring goals that have won Manchester United silverware, but also performing to a standard that is above the global average for a footballer. Manchester United will always be one of the biggest football clubs in the world, but Wayne Rooney has undeniably been a driving force for the club’s maintained success over his thirteen year tenure at the Theatre of Dreams. Of course, the days of seeing a speedy, agile, ruthless and bad-tempered Wayne Rooney are long gone. But that does not mean the player has lost his touch in any way, Rooney has simply developed and adapted his game in accordance with his age and fitness levels. Perhaps Wayne Rooney is no longer considered a world class player, and that is understandable, but to call his career into question when considering what he has achieved as a footballer for Manchester United and England is farcical.

I was just 8 years-old when Wayne Rooney signed for Manchester United in 2004 and I have to admit that he was my footballing icon when growing up, but that has not filled me with disillusions over his quality. I am aware of all the criticism and bad-press that Rooney has received throughout his illustrious career, as well as his desire to leave Manchester United (twice), but off the field events should never hinder the status of a footballer – only the achievements that they have accumulated throughout their careers. It’s fair to say that Wayne Rooney has achieved more than most, and you nor I are likely to ever see the records he holds for England and Manchester United broken by anyone else. For that alone, Wayne Rooney should be given the highest honour possible for his services to the game – and always be remembered as one of the greatest players to have ever kicked a ball about.