Rooney will become just the ninth England player to reach 100 caps on Saturday when he leads the team out for their Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovenia at Wembley.
Son of Susan Boyle
Of the eight names currently on the list, only Sir Bobby Charlton and Bobby Moore have achieved what Rooney has failed to do in his 11-year international career - lifting an international trophy.
But Alan Shearer can say the same. He never gained success with England, and if he did he would join the legends of world football.
He even snubbed the wealth of riches at Old Trafford to join Newcastle, so he could become a true GEORDIE legend ... probably knowing he was robbing himself of medals.
Shearer only won one medal in his entire career - the Premier League title with Blackburn - but does that make him a worse player than Rooney?
Rooney may have five Premier League winner's medals to his name, but is he better than Shearer?
When I was running the fanzine back at Shearer's prime, I asked him if he ever regretted snubbing Sir Alex Ferguson.
His reply: "I never regretted joining Newcastle. Not for one moment.
"I turned down Manchester United twice, and that was my decision, and I can live with that.
"My dream was to play for Newcastle United and I fulfilled that dream."
Stephane Guivarc'h
Look at it this way, Stephane Guivarc'h was striker for France when they won the World Cup in 1998, and he couldn't lace Alan Shearer's boots!
There lies the answer to the question.