
ORIGINS
8226; Pele was born in poor district of Tres Coracoes
8226; Rooney was born in working class Croxteth area of Liverpool
DEBUT
8226; Pele8217;s club debut for Santos at age 16, international debut at 17
8226; Rooney8217;s for Everton at 16, for England at 17
BUILD
8226; Both are short, muscular, tough, pacy
STYLE OF PLAY
8226; Pele did not just score goals, he made them and could tackle too
8226; Rooney has a tremendous burst of speed and is also immensely powerful for his youth
SPEED OF THOUGHT
8226; Pele8217;s shot from the halfway line against Czechoslovakia in the 1970 World Cup finals and his famous dummy against the Uruguay goalkeeper narrowly failed to produce goals but they live on for the sheer audaciousness of their execution
8226; England8217;s equaliser against Croatia was because of Rooney8217;s quick thinking. Getting the ball in a crowded penalty area, he worked out instantly how to make the best of the situation and set up Paul Scholes for his goal
STUNNING GOAL
8226; Pele8217;s against Sweden in 1958 World Cup final: with his back to goal, he caught the ball on his thigh, hooked it over, swivelled and shot in
8226; Rooney8217;s against Croatia, a screamer from 30 yards out