How would you feel if Rooney smashed it at Everton?

[Sky1981]

Obviously genetics played a role. All the more reason he should’ve looked after himself. Paul Scholes, who you could also say was genetically disadvantaged even more than Rooney, recently said Rooney didn’t look after himself properly.

Nah. Genetics arent the be all and end all.

He might not ended up like ronnie for the same effort (gens plays a part in it), but there's no reason to completely melt down at the age of 32 as well

 

[Jonno]

And it took its toll on him. As good as he still is now, he is no longer as fast/explosive as he was in his 09-12 peak, and his big game performance has declined as a result, when he once took the mickey out of the best defences around on a regular basis. Compare that to Ronaldo, who is older and less naturally talented, and yet got better in big games even as he ages and lost some of his agility/pace.

Even though he made the changes to his diet a few years ago around the time he won his last Ballon Dor?

 

[wub1234]

No, it’s nothing to do with being on a heavy meat diet....

http://metro.co.uk/2016/04/29/lione...-back-on-eating-red-meat-on-his-diet-5849463/

Lionel Messi’s nutritionist reveals the Barcelona star has had to cut back on eating red meat in his diet

Lionel Messi’s nutritionist has revealed the strict dietary regime the Barcelona superstar uses to keep himself at the top of the footballing world, with red meat one of the foods he has had to cut down on eating.

‘Leo also eats meat in moderation too, much less than the amount typically eaten in Argentina and Uruguay because it is difficult for the body to digest.'

Referenced in many other places as well, but this is something Messi did specifically to prolong his career and body. He used to eat lots of meat, pizza, sweets, drink coke...all that is gone now, purely because he wants to be the best he can be. You have to make these sacrifices; that's at least part of the reason that Rooney is shot at 30 (despite not having suffered major injuries), while really dedicated athletes such as Ronaldo and Federer continue to excel well into their thirties.

I accept that there can be a genetic component, but Rooney will never be able to claim that he was 100% dedicated to his body and fitness.