At 18, Wayne Rooney was a freak. The original generational talent who performed incredibly at Euro 2004 - with his individual highlights making for sensational viewing.
Rooney starred for England during the summer of 2004, helping his side reach the quarter-finals before picking up an untimely injury.
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Even at such a tender age, the phenom forward was irreplaceable and he proved that with his performances against France, Switzerland and Croatia.
He bagged four goals in the group stage round including a stunning 'Man of the Match' display versus Croatia.
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Ahead of the Three Lions renewing hostilities with Croatia in this summer's Euro 2020, a fan has uploaded a compilation of Rooney tearing it up in Portugal.
Twitter user @Hxnz99 shared the clip, accompanied with the caption: "18-year-old Wayne Rooney at EURO 2004, taking the mick out of Pires, Zidane and others alike. Sit back and enjoy genius."
Football fans couldn't get enough of Rooney's showing at Euro 2004.
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One wrote: "People forget the young Rooney as per early gazza. Foden is the same breed."
To which someone replied: "Foden, same breed as Wazza? Not a chance mate."
A third tweeted: "The best pure talent England has produced since Gazza. You cannot teach ability like this. You either have it or you don't."
A fourth commented: "Unbelievable talent and still a Everton player at the time was at the Croatia and Portugal game in which he got injured, would have won tournament if he never got injured."
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Another wrote: "Holy shit. He was a freak. 18 and he just looks like a man who's been playing for years at that level. Scary how good he was."
One fan even said an 18-year-old Rooney was better than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the same age: "18yo Rooney was a monster
Ahead of Messi and Ronaldo at 18
Unbelievable Player."
Wayne Rooney. What a player.
Featured Image Credit: UEFATopics:ย Football, England, Zinedine Zidane, Wayne Rooney
