Wayne Rooney equals Bobby Charlton`s record of 49 England goals

Serravalle: Wayne Rooney equalled Bobby Charlton`s 45-year-old England scoring record on Saturday when he netted his 49th international goal in a 2016 European Championship qualifier away to San Marino.

The England captain converted a 13th-minute penalty to give England a 1-0 lead in Serravalle after the Cypriot referee spotted a foul in the box.

Rooney`s goal gave the 29-year-old Manchester United striker an identical international record to Charlton, a member of England`s fabled 1966 World Cup-winning team, with his 49th goal coming in his 106th appearance.

He now requires one goal to become the first England player to score a half-century of goals.

Rooney is also closing in on Charlton`s United scoring record and requires 17 goals to surpass the former midfielder`s tally of 249.

But he is currently struggling for goals at club level.

Despite a hat-trick in a recent Champions League play-off win away to Belgian side Club Brugge, Rooney has not scored a league goal since April.