Former Manchester United and England captain, Wayne Rooney, has been named Pundit of the Year at the Broadcast Sport Awards in recognition of his work as a television football analyst.

Rooney, 41, received the award at a ceremony attended by about 650 people from the sports broadcasting industry in London on Thursday.

The recognition follows his growing profile as a football pundit, particularly during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where his straightforward analysis and humorous contributions attracted attention from viewers.

One of his most memorable moments came when he openly criticised the tournament’s final half-time show, featuring Madonna, BTS, Shakira and Justin Bieber.

“I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap,” Rooney said live on BBC Television on Friday, describing the 27-minute performance.

His blunt assessment surprised some viewers, including fellow pundit Joe Hart, but his honest approach and sense of humour helped establish his presence on the broadcasting team.

Speaking after receiving the award, Rooney admitted that transitioning from professional football into television broadcasting had been more challenging than he initially expected.

“I didn’t realise how tough it was going to be when I first started doing it,” he said.

The former striker added that he remained determined to improve his broadcasting skills despite receiving recognition for his work.

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“I’ve always been my own biggest critic. And even now I need to improve, I need to be better. It’s a lot of hard work,” he stated.

Rooney’s transition into broadcasting followed a distinguished playing career and a challenging spell in football management.

His full-time punditry debut on BBC’s Match of the Day in August 2025 attracted mixed reactions, with some viewers questioning his television presentation skills.

However, Guardian journalist Paul MacInnes praised his performance, describing him as articulate and tactically insightful, with considerable experience to draw from.

During his playing career, Rooney worked under prominent managers, including Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes, and won the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, five Premier League titles, the FA Cup and three League Cups.

The former England captain said he had sought advice from experienced television executives and established former players-turned-pundits, including Alan Shearer, Danny Murphy, Hart and Micah Richards, to improve his presentation and analysis.

“I do look at the other pundits who have been there a long time. I see how they do it. I enjoy it, it keeps me involved in football,” he said.

On criticism from television viewers, Rooney acknowledged that he sometimes saw negative comments but said they motivated him to improve.

“It drives me to be better. I always feel when I do something I want to do better and be the best I can,” he added.

His long-serving agent, Paul Stretford, said Rooney’s achievement should not come as a surprise, given his football intelligence, ambition and straightforward personality.

“It is no surprise to me that Wayne has continued to put his doubters in their place with his football intelligence and straightforward manner,” Stretford said.

He added that Rooney had consistently demonstrated his determination to reach the highest levels throughout his playing career.

Philip Bernie, head of BBC Sport Events, also praised Rooney’s commitment to developing as a broadcaster.

“Wayne is also a very likeable guy, a proper team player, with no ego on display,” Bernie said.

BBC Sport Director Alex Kay-Jelski described Rooney as intelligent, humorous and approachable, noting that he had made significant progress in a relatively short period.

“Like anyone who cares about their job, Wayne had to work hard – to learn skills around analysis and delivery – and he’s improved so much in a short time,” Kay-Jelski said.

He also praised the chemistry between Rooney, Hart and Richards during their World Cup coverage, describing the trio as equal partners who worked effectively together.

Their on-screen relationship attracted further attention when Rooney fulfilled a promise to undertake a rowing challenge after making an incorrect prediction about a match involving Norway and Brazil.

After Norway defeated Brazil, Rooney agreed to adapt his challenge to the United States, where he eventually took to the Hudson River in New York with Hart and Richards.

Rooney’s recognition at the Broadcast Sport Awards marks another milestone in his transition from professional football to television broadcasting.