Luke Littler has never been known for sugarcoating things, and when Wayne Rooney stepped up to the oche for a nine-dart challenge alongside the reigning world champion, the 19-year-old’s verdict was characteristically blunt.
The pair came face to face on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show podcast, where two of British sport’s most recognisable personalities — separated by a generation but united by their shared teenage stardom — went head to head in a lighthearted darts showdown. When Rooney’s attempt at the board drew a frank assessment from Littler, the Warrington teenager did not hesitate: “No, it’s not good.”
It was classic Littler — honest, unfiltered, and utterly self-assured.
Two Legends, One Oche
The challenge itself was pure entertainment, but the wider conversation between the two was genuinely fascinating. Both burst onto the sporting scene at 16 — Rooney with a jaw-dropping goal for Everton against Arsenal before his landmark move to Manchester United, and Littler reaching the final of his first ever World Darts Championship aged 16 before winning back-to-back titles at Alexandra Palace.
Speaking on the latest episode of BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney told Littler: “I’ve always had belief and this is where I think there’s loads of comparisons between us. I think you have to have a certain level of arrogance to be at your best. When I got in Everton’s first team, I’ve said it many times, I felt like I was the best player at 16.”
Littler, never shy of a similar self-belief, echoed the sentiment. “I’ve been playing tournament-wise for many years, maybe my first proper tournament was at like nine, maybe 10,” he said. “And just like Wayne said, when you’ve showed a bit of arrogance, the more you do it, obviously people might not like it, but as long as you feel comfortable about doing it, that’s all that matters.”
Rooney’s Darts Credentials — Or Lack Thereof
Rooney may be one of the greatest footballers England has ever produced, but life at the oche is a different proposition entirely. Completing a game of 501 in just nine darts demands the kind of millimetre precision that takes years to hone, and the former Manchester United and England captain found that out the hard way.
Littler, who has made four televised nine-dart finishes in his career and is widely regarded as the most naturally gifted darts player of his generation, was the perfect — if merciless — judge of Rooney’s effort.
The verdict? It wasn’t close to good enough for the world number one’s exacting standards.
A Shared Bond Beyond Sport
For all the competitive fun, the meeting of these two icons carries a deeper resonance. The Rooney family have long been drawn into Littler’s orbit. Coleen Rooney and her sons were in attendance at London’s Alexandra Palace to witness Littler win the World Darts Championship, with Coleen accidentally spilling beer on herself as she celebrated wildly. She later wrote on Instagram: “Amazing night. Kids were buzzing!”
The connection runs even deeper within the Rooney household. Coleen has revealed that son Kit has effectively “retired” from football and is instead focused on working on his darts game, having met Littler when he won the World Championship at Alexandra Palace. “The third one… wants to become a darts player at the minute,” she told The Sun.
It’s safe to say the Rooneys are firm fans of the Nuke.
Littler: The Face of a Sport on the Rise
The BBC appearance is the latest in a string of high-profile moments that have cemented Littler’s status as one of British sport’s biggest crossover stars. He has won two PDC World Championships, in 2025 and 2026, and is the youngest world champion in darts history. He holds 12 PDC major titles — ranked third all-time — and a total of 26 PDC titles.
In January 2026, following his second world championship win, Littler extended his relationship with Target Darts by signing a new 10-year deal reported to be worth up to £20 million.
Off the board, his life has become considerably more complicated. Littler has spoken about learning to deal with growing public scrutiny, drawing on Rooney’s own experience of being booed by England fans at the 2010 World Cup as a point of reference. “The press can be mind boggling — you’re not used to it,” Rooney said. “One thing which always remains is your safe place. Mine was on the football pitch, and I would imagine where he’s comfortable is on the oche.”
Littler has been booed at recent Premier League Darts events following his well-publicised on-stage clash with Gian van Veen in Manchester, but his response has been to lean on his inner confidence and let his darts do the talking.
What Next?
Rooney’s darts career may be best left as a one-off appearance, but the connection between these two sporting giants feels likely to endure. For Littler, the BBC platform is another sign of just how far darts has travelled — from the back rooms of British pubs to primetime television slots alongside football royalty.
And if Rooney ever fancies another nine-dart challenge? He’ll need a lot more practice before Littler will have anything different to say.
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