Wayne Rooney's Brutal World Cup Halftime Show Takedown Goes Viral—And He's Got a Point

The 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium had everything you’d want: Spain versus Argentina, Ferran Torres scoring the winner, and a halftime show that looked incredible on paper. Chris Martin curated an all-star lineup featuring Madonna, Justin Bieber, Shakira, BTS, Burna Boy, The Muppets, and cameos from football legends Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. But when BBC commentator Wayne Rooney was asked about his favorite moment, his answer stopped everyone in their tracks.“Mine was when it finished,”he said bluntly.“I like a lot of them artists but I thought it was crap. It just didn’t get me going and I wanted the football to come back on.”

That one honest assessment ignited the internet. Celebrities like Liam Gallagher and Tom Holland rushed to agree, pointing out that Justin Bieber’s choice of“Everything Hallelujah”was a sleepy, slow song for a World Cup audience, and that the whole show felt disjointed, like it was assembled by algorithm rather than actual entertainment instinct. Even Ronaldo and Ronaldinho apparently looked confused during their Madonna segment. The criticism reveals something important about massive entertainment spectacles: throwing together the biggest names doesn’t guarantee a moment people will remember fondly or want to tune in for.

Maybe the lesson here is that sometimes less is more. A tightly produced, focused performance from one or two artists might connect better with viewers than a chaotic parade of superstars who barely interact with each other. What do you think—was Rooney out of line, or did he say something the industry needs to hear?