Wayne Rooney is not old. He might look a little old but that’s just appearances. He’s only 33-years-old and turning 34 in October.
However, in the world of professional sports, Wayne Rooney is an old ass man. Especially in soccer where the pros typically peak in their early to mid-20s when their vitality is at an all-time high.
Rooney was one of the most prolific goal scorers in Premier League history. He put 15 goals in the back of the net for Everton (in 67 games) and then he ascended to LEGENDARY status at Manchester United where he scored 183 goals in 393 games. He also scored an additional 53 goals for England’s National Team.
These days he’s showcasing his talents in the MLS where the quality of play is noticeably lower than in England’s Premier League. It’s unclear if that discrepancy in talent factored into this goal from Rooney last night that helped him propel D.C. United to a 1-0 victory over Orlando City or if he just unleashed some of that old Rooney magic.
Rooney sent the ball flying around 70-yards, from beyond midfield, and scored a goal by soaring it over the keeper’s head who was out of position and tried in vain to make a stop. It’s one of the most spectacular goals I’ve ever seen and fans were losing their SHIT last night after this clip hit the Internet.
The video has already been viewed half a million times on YouTube and 3.4 million times on Twitter. I’m sure the numbers look the same on Facebook:
Here’s the Twitter version if you prefer that over YouTube:
https://twitter.com/casspa/status/1144049830244900865
As you can imagine, fans lost their bananas. From America to England, everyone on Twitter was in awe by Rooney’s goal:
HOLY CRAP. WAYNE ROONEY WITH A WOLF BLITZER OF A STRIKE FROM INSIDE HIS OWN HALF 🙌🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/p5BkfnIQXo
— roger bennett (@rogbennett) June 27, 2019
Something about playing against Orlando City at Audi Field brings out the special in Wayne Rooney.
From DOWNTOWN 😱😱😱
(via @MLS) pic.twitter.com/E8P7xHWY40
— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) June 27, 2019
Wayne Rooney from the halfway line. Yet again. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/pAXuHO9pYa
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) June 27, 2019
Orlando City supporters who are also West Ham fans, Wayne Rooney is your Daddy
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) June 27, 2019
https://twitter.com/LesFloyd/status/1144124977232457733
The Goal he scored for Everton FC against West Ham Unite from the half way line was just as good. This one is a cracker though
— Texmac10 💙 (@Terrymc1939) June 27, 2019
They have to somehow make it about United…
✅ Incredible goal
✅ By @WayneRooney
✅ From midfield
✅ For a team named UnitedWe could have told you this was coming, @dcunited. pic.twitter.com/lOZSTJgnR5
— Premier League USA (@PLinUSA) June 27, 2019
That was the only goal scored in the game and it propelled Rooney’s team to a 1-0 win over Orlando City. DC United sits in a tie for third place in the Eastern Conference with 30 points through 18 games, just two points behind leaders Philadelphia with 32 points through 18 matches played.
It honestly feels like Rooney will be able to play in the MLS until he’s 40-years-old, him and Zlatan. I’m sure that won’t be the case but they seem to be that far ahead of the competition.