Man Utd: Why David Beckham's Wonder Goal Was Better Than Rooney's

On Saturday, Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney scored a screamer from the half-way line with pundits instantly drawing comparisons to a certain David Beckham goal 18 years ago. For Rooney, the opponents were Sam Allardyce's West Ham. For Beckham, Joe Kinnear's Wimbledon hosted a United side far different to the one we see today. Yet the similarities were stark. Nearly 20 years ago, 'Golden Balls' scored a famously-audacious goal in August 1996 from inside his own half by lobbing goalkeeper Neil Sullivan with a worldy. And this weekend, Rooney re-produced a near carbon copy by chipping Adrián from just inside West Ham's half after catching the Spaniard wandering off his line. The moment Rooney's 57-yard screamer bounced into the Hammers goal, cameras instantly pointed to Beckham, who was in attendance at Upton Park and offered a wry smile. The former United hero will have been left in little doubt that his goal against Wimbledon now has huge competition when it comes to the 'best ever long-ranged goals' category. Indeed, after full-time, when asked if his wonder-goal was better than Beckham's, Rooney boasted: "Of course." But was it really?

There's little questioning that Rooney's goal (pictured above) was world class. A shade inside the West Ham half, the Englishman out-muscled James Tomkins, looked up, spotted Adrian off his line and looped in a cheeky effort from almost 60-yards. The ball bounced before nestling in the back of the net while Beckham was spied putting his hand over his mouth in astonishment - a feeling shared by most spectators. Yet that crucial bounce is but one reason why Beckham's goal in 1996 was superior. The midfielder's shot was hit and stayed hit until it swept past Sullivan and in. Beckham's strike was also from within his own half - almost exactly on the half-way line - while Rooney's was a shade closer to the West Ham goal. Rooney has also been dogged by claims he fouled Tomkins in the build-up. The Englishman had tussled with the Hammers man seconds earlier and Sam Allardyce believes he should have been penalised. "I definitely thought there was a foul , complained the West Ham boss.

"When the ball comes forwards, James Tomkins is going to try and win it. Wayne, not making an attempt for the ball, pushes him with his left arm."

Beckham's goal by contrast faced no protests, and was not marred by the same animosity.

Yet the biggest argument for Beckham's goal being better than Rooney's is the fact he was but 21 when he scored that sublime goal at Selhurst Park all those years ago. Becks was into his third season at United in 1996 having fought his way into first-team contention the previous season under Sir Alex Ferguson, and was relatively inexperienced. The young upstart was just beginning to make a name for himself and well-and-truly introduced himself to the world stage with his scorcher against Wimbledon. At 28, Rooney represents a more seasoned pro, and - not to diminish his goal - Beckham's was out of the blue while Rooney's could almost be expected from a player at the peak of their powers. So which goal was the best? Have your say in the comment section, below.