Wayne Rooney retires from England: SunSport runs down the Everton star’s greatest ever international goals
After speculation Rooney was going to be recalled by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, the shock news broke that he has called it a day
WAYNE ROONEY has announced his retirement from international football, and bows out as England's record goalscorer.
The Everton striker notched 53 goals in 119 games for his country, breaking Sir Bobby Charlton's record along the way.
Here, SunSport charts the top 10 best goals of his international career.
Macedonia 1 England 2 (September 6, 2003)
This was Wayne Rooney's first ever England goal, as he became England's youngest ever scorer at 17 years and 317 days old.
Emile Heskey nodded down Beckham's pass to strike partner Rooney, and he smashed the ball home past Macedonia keeper Milosevski to tie things up at 1-1.
Beckham bagged the eventual winner to ensure a delightful debut for Rooney.
Wayne Rooney retires - The Latest
England 2 Denmark 3 (November 16, 2003)
Rooney, then an 18-year-old Everton player, gave Manchester United fans a glimpse of his potential with a fine striker against the Danes at Old Trafford.
The striker burst from the halfway line, took advantage of a fortuitous deflection off a Denmark player, before thundering a shot in off the underside of the crossbar from 20 yards.
England 6 Iceland 1 (June 5, 2004)
Wayne Rooney's spectacular strike against Iceland sent England on their way in some style to the Euro 2004 Championship.
Already 2-0 up, Rooney rifled home a superb 25-yard effort that flew in to make it 3-0 after 37 minutes.
His first touch teed it up perfectly for the follow-up that flew past the Iceland keeper.
Croatia 2 England 4 (June 21, 2004)
England needed just a draw to qualify for the second round at the European Championships, but they went behind to Niko Kovac's early strike.
Paul Scholes equalised and Rooney then swung the game beyond Croatia with a 25-yard drive.
Wayne Rooney - His England career broken down
- England appearances: 119
- Debut: vs Australia 12 Feb 2013, aged 17 years 111 days
- International goals: 53 – England’s record goal haul
- First goal: vs Macedonia 6 September 2003
- Wins: 71, Draws: 29, Losses: 19
- Major tournaments: Six
- World Cup goals: One - vs Uruguay in 2014
- Red cards: Two – Portugal 2006, Montenegro 2012
- Caps as captain: 22 games
- First captaincy: vs Brazil 14 November 2009
- England managers : Six – Eriksson, McClaren, Capello, Hodgson, Allardyce, Southgate
England 3 Argentina 2 (November 12, 2005)
Rooney was the best player on the park in what was one of the most fiercely-contested and enthralling friendlies in living memory.
The then 20-year-old harassed the Argentina defence all night and got the goal he deserved in the 38th minute when he latched on to David Beckham's flick-on and slotted the ball into the corner to equalise Hernan Crespo's opener.
The rest of the game went on to belong to Michael Owen, who netted another equaliser and then the injury-time winner.
Russia 2 England 1 (October 17, 2007)
Rooney's goal against Russia will be fondly remembered in itself, but not from a damaging defeat that left their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 hanging by a thread.
Michael Owen leapt like a salmon to nod on Micah Richards' long punt upfield, Rooney chested and crashed an unstoppable volley into the back of the net.
England 6 Andorra 0 (June 10, 2009)
England were already 2-0 up when Rooney bagged his second of the game with a sweet volley.
His fourth-minute header had already calmed England's nerves, and after Frank Lampard added a second, Rooney took centre stage.
Glen Johnson burst down the right and his pinpoint cross was expertly fired past the Andorran keeper by Rooney.
England 1 Ukraine 0 (June 19, 2012)
After sitting out the first two matches of Euro 2012 due to suspension, Rooney delivered on his return, bundling home at the back post to send England through to the second round.
Rooney took Andy Carroll's place in the team, and it proved a shrewd move, despite Rooney missing a simple header in the first half.
Brazil 2 England 2 (June 2, 2013)
England were given the honour of being the first national team to visit the newly-rebuilt Maracana in Rio de Janeiro and Rooney scored a goal worthy of the occasion.
With the score at 1-1, Rooney picked the ball up in the Brazil half and strolled towards goal before unleashing a 25-yard drive that flew right into the top corner.
Uruguay 2 England 1 (June 19, 2014)
This wasn't Wayne Rooney's best England goal by any stretch, but will end as his only ever goal at a World Cup finals.
Glen Johnson aimed a perfect cross into the box and Rooney tapped home.
That took the score to 1-1, then Luis Suarez nodded home what turned out to be the winner for Uruguay and England were facing World Cup elimination.
