It was July 1, 2006. England vs. Portugal. World Cup quarter-final. The moment Wayne Rooney’s boot met Ricardo Carvalho’s groin, the game—and his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo—changed forever.
Referee Horacio Elizondo brandished the red card after what appeared to be a stamp, but the real drama began with Ronaldo’s quick dash to the official, seemingly gesturing for a dismissal, followed by his now-infamous wink to the Portuguese bench. The incident would become one of football’s most scrutinized moments. Portugal won the penalty shootout 3-1, but for Manchester United, the real story was just beginning.
As Rooney later recalled in his 2006 book, My Story So Far: “As I walked off, I spotted Cristiano giving that wink to the bench. I thought, ‘You cheeky bastard.’”
The Media Firestorm and Rumors of an Exit
The English media went into overdrive. The nation, heartbroken by another tournament exit, needed a scapegoat, and Ronaldo’s theatrics had provided the perfect villain. Tabloids were a warzone, with headlines like The Sun’s “WHAT A WINKER” and others screaming “WINKER-GATE” and “RONALDO THE RAT.” Pundits were equally furious. Former England captain Alan Shearer famously declared on the BBC that Rooney should “go back to the Manchester United training ground and stick one on Ronaldo.” Steven Gerrard, a rival at Liverpool, described Ronaldo’s actions as “bang out of order.”
The public outcry was immense. The pressure became so intense that Ronaldo himself began to question his future at Old Trafford. Weeks after the incident, he publicly stated: “I think I should get out of Manchester. The circumstances are not right to keep playing in Manchester.” Reports surfaced of concrete interest from Spanish giants Real Madrid and Valencia, with Valencia’s former sporting director later claiming that a move was very close to happening. Ronaldo felt that he had been left to fend for himself against the hostile media, lamenting, “Nobody stood up for me at Manchester.”
Pre-Season
Privately, Manchester United were deeply concerned. Would two of their biggest stars—and most valuable assets—even speak again? Sir Alex Ferguson was fully aware that this conflict could derail the club’s entire season. He didn’t just make a phone call; he masterminded a carefully orchestrated strategy to defuse the situation. He reportedly told both players that their combined talent was more important than any personal animosity, and that United’s success depended on their partnership. The message was clear: personal grievances had no place at Old Trafford, and winning trumped everything else.
Just weeks later, United flew to South Africa for their pre-season campaign. However, both Rooney and Ronaldo were notably absent, still on extended breaks after the World Cup. The team’s tour produced mixed results, with a convincing 4-0 victory over Orlando Pirates followed by a loss to Kaizer Chiefs in the Vodacom Challenge final.
Rooney made his first appearence since the World Cup against Macclesfield Town on the 31st of July, scoring in a 2-1 win. He was ironically sent off in his next outing against Porto when he was deemed to have elbowed Portugese defender Pepe in the head.
Ronaldo returned for a friendly against Oxford United on August 8, but without Rooney since he picked up a small injury. Ronaldo scored twice in the 4-1 victory. According to former teammate Gary Neville sometime in pre-season, Ferguson called both players into his office for a meeting where they shook hands and immediately moved on. It was a masterclass in psychology, and a stark reminder that Ferguson’s greatest weapon wasn’t his tactical genius, but his ability to manage people.
The Perfect Answer
When the Premier League kicked off in August 2006, all eyes were on their first match back together. Against Fulham at Old Trafford, they provided the perfect answer.
Both Rooney and Ronaldo scored in a commanding 5-1 victory. Crucially, they celebrated together, smiling and with their arms draped over each other’s shoulders. It was a visual that silenced the doubters and marked the beginning of one of football’s most devastating attacking partnerships.
The incident that threatened to tear Manchester United apart instead became a footnote in football history. Over the following seasons, Rooney and Ronaldo would combine for countless goals, helping United win three consecutive Premier League titles and the Champions League. Ferguson’s man-management had triumphed once again, proving that at the highest level, winning is the ultimate priority.
