Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney was in attendance at the AO Arena in Manchester to support darts prodigy Luke Littler during the Premier League Darts event.
Rooney, 39, joined a packed crowd to watch 18-year-old Littler attempt to secure a record-breaking fifth nightly win in the tournament. Known for his love of darts, the former England striker was spotted enjoying the evening with fans—and for good reason.
Littler, a lifelong Manchester United supporter, has quickly become a national sensation since winning the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship. His connection to Rooney goes beyond mutual admiration: earlier this year, Littler signed autographs for Rooney’s children after Colleen Rooney took them to the World Championship final.
The rising star even had the opportunity to parade his Sid Waddell trophy on the Old Trafford pitch and play darts with members of the United squad at Carrington.
Fellow darts pro Nathan Aspinall, who played that night, noted Rooney’s appearance, joking, “I don’t think he’s here to watch me! That’s the thing with darts now—it’s attracting big names who appreciate the talent and pressure we play under.”
Rooney’s nine-year-old son, Kit, is one of Littler’s biggest fans. According to Colleen, Kit is so inspired by Littler that he’s now set on becoming a darts player himself, complete with steak-for-breakfast training sessions.
“The third one has steak for breakfast—this is the darts one,” said Colleen. “He wants to become a darts player at the minute.”
Littler has embraced his newfound fame in the football world. He’s received messages of support from David Beckham, appeared on The Overlap podcast with Gary Neville and Roy Keane, and even shared a moment with Sir Alex Ferguson.
“It was probably one of the best moments of my life,” Littler said of meeting Fergie. “I’ll remember it forever.”
The teenage sensation continues to balance darts glory with his Red Devils passion, bridging the gap between two worlds—and winning hearts in both.
