Leave it to Wayne Rooney to stir the pot with a dash of confidence and a cheeky grin.
The former Manchester United and England striker has gone viral after choosing himself over a lineup of world-class forwards in a playful “winner stays on” game—and fans on social media have had a field day with it.
The Video That Got Everyone Talking
The now-viral clip, shared on X (formerly Twitter), has racked up nearly seven million views.
In it, Rooney is challenged to pick between himself and some of football’s most elite strikers.
One by one, names like Luis Suarez, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Neymar, and Robert Lewandowski are put in front of him.
Rooney’s mission? Select who he’d take in a head-to-head showdown—him or the rival. The winner moves on to face the next contender.
Backing Himself All the Way
Dressed in a sleek black turtleneck and flashing a knowing smile, Rooney coolly backed himself every single time.
There were a few raised eyebrows (and maybe a bit of hesitation) when Neymar, Aguero, and Haaland came up, but in the end, Wazza crowned himself champion.
“These are tough, by the way,” he said during one of his tougher choices—though that didn’t stop him from brushing aside the rest with ease.
Social Media Has Some Thoughts
As expected, the internet quickly exploded with opinions. Some fans were amused, others outraged, and plenty somewhere in between.
One user laughed:
“These are tough” and he’s picking himself.
Another posted:
“Bro thinks he’s better than Neymar, Suarez, Zlatan, Lewa, Haaland,” followed by a string of laughing emojis.
Others were less forgiving, questioning:
“No way he’s better than Neymar or Suarez. Not even close.”
One critic chimed in about his Zlatan pick with:
“He said he’s better than Zlatan? Bro must be smoking something.”
But Not Everyone Disagreed
Still, there were loyal Rooney supporters in the mix, especially those who remember the chaos he used to unleash in his prime.
One nostalgic fan commented:
“Other than Neymar, he was absolutely spot on.”
And perhaps the most passionate came from an Arsenal fan (of all people) who said:
“As an Arsenal fan, all those were spot on tbh.
You Gen Z kids don’t know about prime Rooney.”
What’s Next?
It’s clear Rooney’s self-belief hasn’t gone anywhere—and whether fans agree or not, the debate about how he stacks up against modern greats is likely to rage on.
One thing’s for sure: prime Rooney definitely left a mark