The greatest goalscorer in Manchester United and England history, there is no doubt that Wayne Rooney will go down in history as one of the best footballers of his generation.
After breaking onto the scene at the age of 16 for Everton, Rooney is the second-highest goalscorer in Premier League history and the Red Devils’ greatest goalscorer in European competitions. At his best, he was unplayable, but even he had his favorite opponents.
Having scored more than 350 goals in his career, 90 mins see who has felt the anger of “White Pelé” more often than the others.
Peak @Wayne Rooney when @Man Utd to beat the wolves in 2011?#FACup pic.twitter.com/akKRg8jS5H
– Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) January 15, 2020
Rooney has faced Wolves seven times in his career, with his best performance against them in a 4-1 win in 2011 where he scored twice.
Rooney has never lost to QPR as a Manchester United player, scoring his three goals in those six games. He scored a penalty kick in the 4-0 win during Louis van Gaal’s tenure in 2014 and once in each league game in the 11/12 campaign.
After a £ 30million transfer to Manchester United at the age of 18, Rooney’s career at Old Trafford started off on a high as he scored a first hat-trick against Fenerbahce in the Champions League. Talk about first impressions.
Every time Rooney has played against Sheffield United he has scored. Four goals in three appearances started with this brace at Bramall Lane in the 06/07 season.
One of the most memorable games of Rooney’s career, the former England captain scored the third as Manchester United clinched a 7-1 victory over Italian giant Roma.
Wayne Rooney still has it?
Watch his free kick for Derby against Norwich!
Recap here: https://t.co/VPDICNiL4M pic.twitter.com/225CQ9YRBb
– Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 3, 2020
Rooney’s record against Norwich is still in the process of being added, as he scored this beauty with a free kick earlier this season to give Derby three points against the Canaries.
Rooney has scored two penalties in his four goals against the Welsh side, most recently in his second stint at Everton in 2017.
? There was no way to stop that one ☄️@Wayne Rooney One touch is enough to score against Southampton in 2004! pic.twitter.com/7aOhRFxwlO
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 2, 2019
‘Wazza’ has only scored in three of the 15 appearances he has made against Southampton, but two accolades and that fine finish in 2004 put them on his list of favorite opponents.
He has lost only once to the Blues and has scored all five of his goals in various games, including in 2006/07 when he got a goal and an assist in a 3-0 victory.
Rooney’s most memorable goal against Blackburn came in 2011, as he scored a penalty to seal Manchester United’s 19th league title in a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park.
Three incredible @Wayne Rooney goals in the #EmiratesFACup ?
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⚽️ vs Middlesbrough, fourth round 2005
⚽️ vs Portsmouth, fourth round 2007
⚽️ vs Manchester City, third round 2012 pic.twitter.com/atf7zwU3g5– Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) October 24, 2020
One of the best goals Rooney scored in a Manchester United shirt came against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup in 2005, when he smashed a volley in the far corner and won the goal of the season.
After leaving Everton to join the Red Devils, Rooney was not so beloved by Blues fans. He was booed on a trip to Goodison in 2007, and he didn’t really help matters by scoring and kissing the Man Utd badge as the Reds came from behind en route to another title.
✨ @Wayne Rooney absolutely loved a goal against AC Milan?#MUFC #GoalOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/ffALudzXRQ
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 24, 2020
The Man Utd administrator knows his stuff, as Rooney has scored six goals in six games against the Italian giants. He scored three accolades, including at home and away in the Champions League final game 09/10.
Six goals in ten appearances against Reading have given only one loss to Rooney, who tied Sir Bobby Charlton’s Manchester United scoring record against the Royals in the FA Cup in 2017.
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️@Wayne Rooney marked the four as #MUFC Hull hit #OnThisDay in 2009! pic.twitter.com/qqkmPnIFtO
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) 23 january 2019
The Tigers rarely had fun facing the Red Devils and Rooney made sure of that in 2009 when he scored all four goals in a 4-0 victory.
.@Wayne Rooney become #MUFCall-time top scorer on our last visit to Stoke. pic.twitter.com/78jNLMbkLI
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 9, 2017
A memorable strike in the career of an all-time greats as Rooney became Man Utd’s all-time leading scorer with that free kick in 2017.
Everyone remembers the end of season 11/12 for this Goal from Sergio Aguero, but Rooney scored the goal at the Stadium of Light which had Man United as champions in their final whistle. So close and yet so far.
.@Wayne Rooney ⚽️@Cristiano ⚽️
Dimitar Berbatov ⚽️@LuisNani ⚽️#MUFC were on? when we beat West Brom 4-0 at Old Trafford in 2008! pic.twitter.com/A1HPZ67Ndw– Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 13, 2018
Skinhead Rooney is a great memory for fans on social media, and he was on the scoresheet in 2008 against West Brom. He has scored seven times in 19 appearances against the Baggies and has lost just twice.
A born and raised Everton fan, Rooney has always loved a goal against Liverpool more than any other. His favorite will surely be his first and only for the Toffees against their rivals.
? How to find the net from a counterattack: demonstrated by @Wayne Rooney and @Cristiano ?#MUFC #GoalOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/pXE3wcnxjQ
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 17, 2020
A personal favorite, the most perfect counterattack ever. It was one of nine points he scored against them, including two hat tricks.
Rooney has always been a man for big time and his record against Chelsea proves it. He never scored against them for Everton but has done quite a few times for the Red Devils.
.@Wayne Rooney v Wigan in 2005 – this finish though! ? pic.twitter.com/vnJ79I6yCG
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 27, 2017
It was always a productive day at the office against Wigan, as Rooney had ten goals and eight assists in 16 games. This includes a brace in the League Cup final as United claimed a 4-0 victory.
Rooney’s memorable boxing celebration came against Spurs as he scored at home in one of his 11 strikes against the North London club.
Three incredible @Wayne Rooney goals in the #EmiratesFACup ?
????? ??? ?? ???? ??????????
⚽️ vs Middlesbrough, fourth round 2005
⚽️ vs Portsmouth, fourth round 2007
⚽️ vs Manchester City, third round 2012 pic.twitter.com/atf7zwU3g5– Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) October 24, 2020
Wazza has scored his 12 goals in just eight of the 15 games he has played against Portsmouth, including a Premier League hat-trick in 2009 and that tricky FA Cup chip in 2007.
Manchester derby’s all-time top scorer with 11 goals, he also scored against them after returning to Everton. Arguably the team he scored his greatest goal against – and he scored goalscorers.
Rooney enjoyed his day when Fulham was in town whether it was for Man Utd or Derby. The former England captain scored a Panenka penalty in his 500th league appearance in 2020 against the Cottagers.
West Ham fans must really hate Rooney… 15 goals against the Hammers and one of them was even from the halfway line.
On this day of 2005, @Wayne Rooney scored that absolute screamer against Newcastle! ? pic.twitter.com/N8ZH0Try7Q
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 24, 2018
Newcastle hated the sight of Rooney so much that they were trying to get him back up the pitch to put him out of play. They stopped trying that when he nearly broke the net with his angry volley, and he then scored 15 times against them.
At the height of his powers, Rooney scored against everyone, but Villa seemed to be on the receiving end more often. He scored a brace against them on five occasions, including at home and away in the 07/08 season.
Imagine being 16, playing Premier League football for the club you support and scoring a screamer against Arsenal. It was the start of a special relationship Rooney had with Arsenal, as he scored to end their 49-game unbeaten streak as well as a hat-trick in the famous 8-2 win.