SIR Wayne Rooney? You must be having a laugh.

Hats off to Rooney for raising the bar as England's new all-time leading goal-scorer. I like the bloke and whatever his indifferent form at club level, it's a remarkable achievement and well worth the plaudits.

But the suggestion I heard on the radio that he deserves a knighthood is laughable.

All right, it might be the usual shock-jock nonsense to generate a phone-in argument, but let's have some sense of perspective.

It would be churlish to knock anyone who has reached a half-century of goals for his country. After all, it's never been done in England colours before.

But that tally needs closer examination. Of that 50, only six have been scored in the finals of major tournaments – in the real nitty-gritty when the genuine contenders are sorted from the also-rans.

Rooney's half-dozen includes four in the space of four days during that magical period in Portugal in the 2004 Euros.

Back-to-back doubles against Switzerland and Croatia heralded his spectacular entrance on the main stage. But 11 years on it has never got any better for him.

Instead, Rooney has managed only one more Euro finals goal – a winner against Ukraine in 2012 – and that solitary World Cup finals effort against Uruguay during last year's best-forgotten campaign.

Even then, his tap-in was overshadowed by a Luis Suarez double that condemned England to first-round humiliation.

Rooney should be congratulated at overtaking the likes of Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker and Jimmy Greaves. But the best ever?

Let's keep it real – the numbers don't always add up.