He has also figured prominently in recent England international matches, after having become the youngest ever player to play for England, in a friendly against Australia, in February 2003. He has more recently set a record as youngest to score for England.

Before turning 17 and becoming eligible for a professional contract, he was playing for a hundred pounds a week and living with his family in a public housing project.

Rooney was brought up in a suburb of East Liverpool called Croxteth, where he and his two brothers attended De La Salle School.