Wayne Rooney’s best one-liners and funny moments after he left World Cup viewers in hysterics with his cutting review of ‘c**p’ halftime show

He had always fought back against long-held perceptions of his intelligence, insisting that he was much more well-rounded and self-educated than many realised.

And Wayne Rooney has proven he has the wit to make millions laugh with a few one-liners and hilarious tweets over the years.

He last sent World Cup viewers into hysterics when he described the final half-time show of 2026 as ‘c**p’ and said ‘the best part was when it ended’.

During Sunday’s show, the likes of Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira and the Muppets performed at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

And the 41-year-old former England captain was outspoken when assessing the performance, musing: ‘That didn’t move me, I wanted football to come back.

‘It was a bit flat. ‘I love Burna Boy, I love Shakira, I love Bieber, but this was so ordinary.’

But that’s not the only funny comment Wayne has made over the years…

In 2022, Wayne shares his honest opinion of Everton’s top stars when he signed for the club in 2002, branding Duncan Ferguson and Alan Stubbs ‘c**p’ (filmed with Duncan in 2014)

Wayne’s brutally honest assessment of his teammates

Although his 13-year stint at Manchester United was his most memorable, it was Everton FC who first recognized Wazza’s talents, training him with their youth teams for six years before recruiting him to their adult squad in 2002.

But Wayne has given his honest opinion on the then-senior stars in 2022, admitting he is less than impressed with his team-mates at the Premier League side.

Wayne said on Toffee TV: ‘For me, it was walking in with Duncan (Ferguson), Stubbsy (Alan Stubbs), who I grew up watching, then going and playing with them, training with them every day and playing with them, and then I just remember thinking so quickly: ‘Those are c**p!’ ‘I couldn’t believe how bad some of them were.’

Wayne vs. Piers Morgan

In 2011, Wayne made his feelings about Piers Morgan’s judging skills on the Britain’s Got Talent show clear by tweeting a bizarre post about Piers and Simon Cowell.

He later wrote: ‘@piersmorgan hello bigpants’. But Piers saw the funny side by retweeting the message, writing: “Hi mate.”

In 2011, Wayne made his feelings about Piers Morgan’s judging skills for Britain’s Got Talent clear in a bizarre tweet.

He wrote on x/Twitter: ‘@piersmorgan shut up and get out of your Cowells hole. I won’t tell you again.’

He later wrote: ‘@piersmorgan hello bigpants’.

But Piers saw the funny side by retweeting the message, writing: “Hello mate.”

The pair patched things up soon after and enjoyed a boozy double date in America with their wives Coleen Rooney and Celia Walden.

Piers recalled the night on the Clare Balding show in 2014: ‘He’s an absolutely hilarious character and he loves to drink. So we had a few drinks and a few more drinks.

‘We arrive around 11.30pm and he goes upstairs to leave and trips backwards into a large olive tree pot.

‘And he’s lying trapped in this pot and Coleen looks at him and says, ‘For God’s sake, Wayne, let’s get you home.’

‘So I thought she was going home, then I woke up in the morning and checked my Twitter account and there was a message from Coleen from Bababoom nightclub in West Hollywood from 5am saying she’d ‘had a great time with Wayne’. So they’re partying with these two.’

Wayne goes rowing

During the World Cup, Wayne was forced to row down New York’s Hudson River after being stunned by Norway’s remarkable run to the quarter-finals.

During the World Cup, Wayne was forced to row down New York’s Hudson River after being stunned by Norway’s remarkable run to the quarter-finals.

Wayne, like others, downplayed Norway’s chances of a showpiece this summer and vowed to take up the challenge if Norway eliminated Brazil.

The line was a nod to the Norwegian football team’s synchronized rowing chant that accompanies matches and has become a viral staple of the 2026 World Cup.

Following Norway’s victory, Wayne navigated one of the world’s most famous waterways alongside BBC pundits and former England team-mates Joe Hart and Micah Richards.

While Joe said Micah was a ‘natural’, the same couldn’t be said for Wayne: ‘I think I pulled my thigh.’

Wayne’s TV reviews

If Wayne’s pundit gig ends, a job as a TV critic might be on the horizon. The football player put his followers in hysterics with his short and concise reviews of television programs

When asked about his tweets in 2024, he said his funniest tweet was Mr Bean and admitted he didn’t know why he wrote it, thinking: “I probably had a few drinks.”

If Wayne’s pundit gig ends, a job as a TV critic might be on the horizon.

The football player sent his Twitter followers into hysterics with his succinct reviews of television programmes.

Quoting Leigh Francis aka Keith Lemon, he previously tweeted: ‘It’s celebrity juice time. Ooooossssshhhh’.

He also made fans laugh when he penned: ‘Mr Bean. Fun’.

When asked about his tweets in 2024, he said he found the Mr Bean tweet the funniest and admitted he didn’t know why he wrote it, thinking: ‘I’ve probably had a few drinks.’

Wayne vs. Wayne

Wayne is active on X/Twitter and is no stranger to publicly hitting back at trolls. But the former Derby County manager confused fans in 2011 when he appeared to be fighting with himself.

Wayne is active on X/Twitter and is no stranger to publicly hitting back at trolls.

But the former Derby County manager confused fans in 2011 when he appeared to be fighting with himself.

He started by tweeting: ‘@sam_oldham_LFC bring your amazing sand girl’.

However, he followed it up by tweeting himself: ‘@WayneRooney I’ll put you to sleep in 10 seconds little girl. Don’t say things and don’t follow. I’ll be waiting.’

Wayne mourns Whitney Houston’s death

The accidental drowning death of Whitney Houston in February 2012 shocked the music world, and Wayne expressed his sadness in his own style.

The music world mourned the death of Whitney Houston in February 2012 after accidentally drowning due to drug use and heart disease.

This news deeply affected many people; Among them is Wayne, who marked the tragedy with the tweet “Whitney passed away.” RIP you will live forever. I can’t believe it.”

But fans were left stunned by the second part of Wayne’s sweet tribute, as he continued: ‘I want to run to you. I really can’t believe this. @’

Wayne later confirmed that he was a huge fan of Whitney’s music and said that his favorite song was A Song For You.

Wayne against technology

In 2011, Wayne sent fans into hysterics when he publicly tweeted a message he intended to send to Rio Ferdinand via DM or text message.

Last year the pair referenced the tweet again when they reunited to film a road trip series for Ineos Grenadier’s YouTube channel, but this time it was Rio who took on Wayne.

In 2011, Wayne sent fans into hysteria when he publicly tweeted a message he intended to send to Rio Ferdinand via DM or text message.

“Hi buddy, want to pick up the phone in the morning?” without any other context. When he tweeted, his followers were astonished.

Eight years later, Rio poked fun at Wayne by retweeting his gaffe to celebrate his return to English football from DC United.

The pair referenced the tweet again last year when they reunited to film a road trip series for Ineos Grenadier’s YouTube channel.

When United traveled to America for pre-season matches, the pair shot a series of films across the pond.

But in a twist, it was Rio who picked up Wayne, and the couple embarked on a 250-mile road trip that took them from Manchester, Michigan, to Chicago.