A CAREER LACED WITH DISAPPOINTMENTS

One thing that will haunt Wayne Rooney will be his inability to score more than one goal in three World Cups. With England’s top goal-scorer calling time on his international stint, HT looks at the moments that shaped his career:

NOT GAME FOR IT

Moments after netting his 200th Premier League goal, Rooney told Sky Sports that his focus was not to get back to the national team but perform for his boyhood club, Everton. The statement contradicted his recent form, but it perhaps stems from the fact that Rooney knew that he is past his prime to play regularly for both — country and club.

BELOW PAR CAREER

Although Rooney retires from the national team as England’s highest goal-scorer, it hasn’t helped his country achieve success at the big stages. He has scored 53 goals for his country, but if one was to pick out a defining one, the job

AGE FACTOR

Some might argue that Rooney had it in him to earn a recall to the national team, but given his form and fitness in the recent past, perhaps Rooney knew that he wasn’t getting any younger. From a below-par show at Manchester United to being dropped by England, Rooney was slowing down for quite some time. Perhaps his decision to retire has come at the right time.

would not get difficult. Even in his retirement statement, the former England captain admitted that his biggest regret was to not be part of a successful English side.