The Manchester United striker is on the verge of breaking Bobby Charlton's Three Lions record but still does not deserve to be held in the same esteemed company.
Wayne Rooney stands on the verge of making history, with Saturday's European Championship qualifier away at San Marino providing him with the perfect chance to equal and even surpass Sir Bobby Charlton's international record of 49 goals.
In many ways, it would be fitting for Rooney to break the record against such modest opposition but, if he failed to find the net in Serravalle, it would be a fair reflection of his fading star on the national scene.