Followingr England's 4-2 victory over Croatia Sven-Goran Eriksson claimed Rooney had made the biggest impact in a major tournament of any player since Pele.
Asked to compare the two players, Brazilian Scolari said: "One is white, the other is black. Rooney is an excellent player but Pele is unique. There will never be another Pele, not in 1,000 years, even in a computer game."
Pele himself said: "It is wonderful when you see a young player who is just starting to realise what he can achieve in the game. Rooney has been outstanding. He is precious. It is a joy for him to play as much as it is for people to watch him play. A young player has the ability to do anything because he is not weighed down by pressure or past experiences. For me, seeing young players come through is one of the most exciting things in football."
And the bake who heightened the hype now feels a little foolish.
"I'm a little frightened about comparing Wayne to Pele, because of the pressure it will put on him," said Eriksson."