It was one of the vital iconic and controversial photos in fashionable soccer historical past — a pink card, a wink, and two Manchester United teammates caught in the course of a global storm. Virtually twenty years on, Wayne Rooney has lastly lifted the lid on the true story behind Cristiano Ronaldo and that unforgettable World Cup second, breaking his silence after years of hypothesis. What as soon as seemed like betrayal has now taken on a really totally different that means.
The 2006 World Cup in Germany offered no scarcity of drama, however few incidents captured the worldwide highlight fairly just like the quarter-final conflict between England and Portugal. Halfway by way of a tense and bodily encounter, Rooney clashed with Ricardo Carvalho. Argentine referee Jorge Larrionda swiftly brandished the pink card, leaving England with ten males and a mountain to climb.
Cameras zoomed in on Ronaldo talking to the official after which delivering a sly wink towards the Portugal bench. In England, it was interpreted as a sign of triumph — a teammate celebrating the downfall of his membership colleague.
The backlash was instant. Ronaldo was branded a “traitor” by the British tabloids, and boos adopted him throughout Premier League stadiums for months. For the English public, the wink turned the Portuguese ahead into public enemy primary.
Rooney speaks after practically 20 years
Now, years later, Rooney has lastly instructed the reality on his personal BBC podcast, The Wayne Rooney Present. To the shock of many, he insists there was by no means any animosity. “I spoke to Cristiano proper after the sport within the tunnel, and there was no challenge in any respect. I simply wished him luck for the semifinal,” Rooney admitted.
However he didn’t cease there. In a revelation that surprised listeners, he confessed: “Within the first half, I attempted to get him booked for diving. If I may have gotten him despatched off, I might have. Through the sport, we have been rivals, however as soon as it was over and we have been again at United, it was achieved.”
This candid admission utterly rewrites the narrative that haunted each males for years. Removed from being betrayed, Rooney was merely caught up within the warmth of a fiercely aggressive match — and so was Ronaldo.
The Portuguese finally departed for Actual Madrid in 2009, whereas Rooney remained at United till 2017, etching his title into the membership’s historical past books. But, the respect between the 2 has endured, their friendship examined however by no means damaged by that notorious second in Germany.
