Rooney undergoes corrective nose surgery after World Cup work

Wayne Rooney has undergone corrective surgery to repair damage from a twice-broken nose, an injury he sustained during his professional football career. The former England captain revealed the procedure was performed last week, following his work commitments at the 2026 World Cup.

Rooney, 40, disclosed the operation on the first episode of his new podcast, "Stick to United." He explained that he had delayed the surgery for years after breaking his nose on two separate occasions while playing. The first break occurred in February 2015 during an FA Cup fifth-round match for Manchester United against Preston North End at Deepdale. United won 3-1, with Rooney scoring the winning goal from a penalty he won himself. He later recalled the incident, noting he "went for a bit of a dive" to secure the spot-kick. His then-teammate Marouane Fellaini also broke his nose in the same game but missed subsequent matches, while Rooney continued playing.

The second injury happened three years later in 2018, while Rooney was playing for DC United in Major League Soccer. During a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids, he collided with opponent Niki Jackson, who was pushed into him by a teammate. The...