Poll: Which international striker can Wayne Rooney emulate?
Published:
It may not have been the worldie we had all hoped he would do the deed with but Wayne Rooney’s penalty against Switzerland was all that was needed for him to become England’s all-time record goalscorer.
So now he has done what was expected of him, all we can ask now is how far can he pull away?
At 29-years-of age it’s fair to assume that the Manchester United man will have a few years left donning the Three Lions shirt, thus providing ample opportunity to add to his 50-goal tally.
Having surpassed all Englishmen before him, it’s now time to take aim at some other international superstars’ tallies.
Whose record is within Wazza’s reach?
Thierry Henry – 51 Goals
The Frenchman netted just one more goal that Rooney currently finds himself on, so it would take a fairly pessimistic person to think that England’s skipper cannot easily beat his haul.
That being said, with both his goals this week coming from the penalty spot, and his form in the Premier League hardly inspiring, he will need to eke out a bit more consistency if he is to surge much further on.
Samuel Eto’o – 56 Goals
Ladbrokes have set the line on Rooney’s total international goals at the same mark that the Cameroonian legend reached, offering 5/6 that the 29-year-old bags at least another six for his country.
Incidentally, the 0.47 goals per game ratio that he is operating at is the same rate that the former Chelsea striker netted his goals for the African nation.
Didier Drogba – 65 Goals
This may be taking somewhat of a big jump, but why can’t Rooney get another 15 goals in an England shirt?
Squeeze in the remaining qualifiers, the Euros themselves, a World Cup qualifiying campaign and maybe the tournament itself, as well as any friendlies and the ex-Everton man could earn another 30+ caps for his country. At his rate of scoring that could be enough to reach the Ivorian’s total.
Stern John – 70 Goals
Tied as the 10th highest international goalscorer of all time, the Trinidad and Tobago man has a proud record for the Caribbean nation, of 70 goals in 115 appearances, once scoring in 12 consecutive internationals.
He played for his country until the age of 35, and one would expect that Wayne Rooney would have to do the same if he were to have a chance of breaking into the top 10.
Pele – 77 Goals
A tricky proposition to emulate such a great player, but with Rooney in the international verve as he is now, anything is possible.
The England skipper has scored nine goals in his last 10 caps, so keeping that rate up would see him require another 30 matches to match the three-time World Cup winners tally. That of course, is easier said than done.
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All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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