THEY are Rooney and Ronaldo 2.0 – a decent chip, flick or shot off the old block.Proving nature is as strong as nurture in football, both Kai Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo Junior have emerged as genuine young footballing talents.Kai Rooney scored the extra-time winner for Manchester United under-15s against Manchester City in a Premier League cup competitionCredit: ErotemeRonaldo Jnr has been called up for Portugal’s under-15 squadCredit: Instagram @cristianojr.xSo might the lads renew the old international rivalry that saw their dads face off in the famous Winkergate World Cup drama?Their sons have gone some way to prove they’ve got what it takes to reach the pinnacle of football.On Tuesday Ronaldo Jnr — in the youth team with his father’s Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr — was called up for Portugal’s under-15 squad.His chuffed dad posted on Instagram: “Proud of you, son!”READ MORE ON KAI ROONEYMeanwhile, Kai scored the extra-time winner for Manchester United under-15s against Manchester City in a Premier League cup competition last week.Dad Wayne wrote on social media: “Proud of @kairooney.10. Great comeback from his team last night and an extra-time winner always special. Keep working hard son.”Former England and Manchester United player Wayne Rooney with son KaiCredit: InstagramFootie superstar Ronaldo poses with his son Cristiano Ronaldo JuniorCredit: InstagramIt came after Kai recently scored a brilliant solo goal for United’s under-17s against Spain’s Real Sociedad — despite being only 15.Both of the footie star dads are clearly feeling that swell of emotion that affects parents across Britain as they trek to muddy, windswept pitches to cheer on their offspring.Most read in FootballSo will these clearly talented lads emerge from the giant shadows cast by their footie legend fathers?Fans who sang “there’s only one Cristiano Ronaldo” had to change their tune when the five-time Champions League winner named his first born after himself.Cristiano Ronaldo Jr follows in dad’s footsteps with incredible free-kick in training session with Chelsea starRonaldo Jnr, 14, is a mini-me lookalike of his old man, complete with rippling six pack.Born to an American woman in 2010, his former Real Madrid star dad has never confirmed who the mother is.At the time, he posted on X: “It is with great joy and emotion that I inform I have recently become father to a baby boy.“As agreed with the baby’s mother, who prefers to have her identity kept confidential, my son will be under my exclusive guardianship.”‘Worst feeling’Ronaldo Snr would later add: “Some points in life are private and people have to respect the privacy.“When Cristiano is going to grow up, I am always going to say the truth to him because he deserves it, because he is my son.”Soon Junior was embarking on a football career of his own as his father played at some of the biggest clubs in global football.And, like clever-dick dads across Britain, Ronaldo Snr can’t help but show his son how it’s done.On his YouTube channel last year he posted a video called Cris v Cris with both trying to curl a free kick around a wall and into the goal with the strapline, “Who did it better?”CR7, as dad is nicknamed, may perhaps be football’s greatest of all time, but on this occasion his son’s effort looked more classy.Despite turning 40 in February, Ronaldo Snr recently admitted he would like to play in a professional game alongside his son.“I would like it,” he said. “It’s not something that keeps me awake at night but we’ll see.”England were facing Portugal in the World Cup Quarter final when Rooney was sent offCredit: AFPRonaldo responded with a theatrical wink to the Portuguese benchCredit: BBCRegarding his boy’s footballing career, he said: “He will follow his path, his career. I will be a proud father — I will be proud of what he wants to do.“If he plays, then ‘top’. If he doesn’t play, we tried. But it won’t be a problem either, in my opinion.”Known affectionately as Cristianinho — meaning little Cristiano — his son was in the youth team at Italy’s Juventus.Then, when his dad returned for a second spell at Manchester United in 2021, the youngster joined the Old Trafford youth academy.Playing alongside him in the under-12s was a skilful lad called Kai Wayne Rooney — born in November 2009.The pair made headlines when both scored against West Bromwich Albion’s youngsters in 2022.For United fans it recalled the Red Devils’ golden years when the names Rooney and Ronaldo were often on the score sheet.Their fathers landed a Champions League and three Premier League titles while both were at the club.But in 2006, in the midst of their fruitful partnership, Winkergate erupted. Rooney’s England were facing Ronaldo’s Portugal in the World Cup Quarter final in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.On 61 minutes — with the score at 0-0 — Rooney tangled with Ricardo Carvalho before stamping on the then-Chelsea defender.Ronaldo rushed in to remonstrate with referee Horacio Elizondo.Rooney shoved his clubmate away but the ref’s mind had been made up and a red card was flourished.Kai recently scored a brilliant solo goal for United’s under-17s against Real SociedadCredit: Instagram/kairooney.10Cristiano Ronaldo Junior has emerged as a genuine footballing talentCredit: InstagramRonaldo responded with a theatrical wink to the Portuguese bench.Rooney was left to stew in the dressing room as the ten-man England side were later knocked out on penalties.Now 39, the former Everton starlet called it the “worst feeling” he had experienced in football.The pair patched things up in the tunnel after the game and resumed their prolific United partnership.Then, with Ronaldo back at United, the relationship soured again.Rooney, sacked as Plymouth Argyle manager in December 2024, criticised his old team mate’s attitude after CR7 refused to come on as a substitute during a game.Ronaldo snapped back in a 2022 interview with Piers Morgan: “I don’t know why he criticises me so badly . . . probably because he finished his career and I’m still playing at a high level.‘He will be a star’“I’m not going to say I’m looking better than him. Which is true.”Then Ronaldo expressed surprise at Rooney’s comments after he revealed his old strike partner had visited him to pick up his children.CR7 added: “We’re here in my house, he picked up his kids here and he invited Cristiano (Junior) to go to his house to play football.“I really don’t understand people like that. Or if they want to be on a cover of the paper in the news or they want new jobs or whatever.”So could Ronaldo Jnr and Kai line up one day for a Winkergate rematch for Portugal and the Three Lions senior teams?Like Junior, the Rooneys’ eldest son certainly has precocious talent.United fans loved it last month when Kai scored against Real Sociedad. Latching on to a long ball with a deft first touch, he outpaced a defender yanking on his shirt before finishing with his left foot.One fan wrote on social media: “Plays exactly like his dad, with aggressiveness and power”.Kai’s mum Coleen, 39, has revealed that there are downsides to having a famous footballer dad.He told me he was just fuming as the goalkeeper was saying ‘Your dad’s s***’, and he got dead angry.Wayne RooneyShe said on I’m a Celebrity: “Kai told Wayne to stop coming to football games when he played grassroots tournaments and stuff because he used to get swarmed and he couldn’t even watch the game.”And the mum-of-four revealed opponents had barracked Kai over his footballing icon father.Speaking to the Stick to Football podcast, Coleen explained: “A few years ago, I remember Kai took a penalty at St George’s Park. He stepped up and just skied it.“Afterwards I asked him how he could take a penalty like that, and he told me he was just fuming as the goalkeeper was saying ‘Your dad’s sh*t’, and he got dead angry.“It doesn’t happen to him very often, but it did then, and you can see in some games where they give you a little push.“He’s strong-minded, though, and usually shrugs it off.”Last year Kai signed a sponsorship deal with Puma and later appeared on a poster for the footwear brand alongside Dua Lipa and Kyle Walker.Like Ronaldo Jnr, he will need drive and determination alongside undoubted talent to reach the top.Read More on The SunIn truth, both lads could achieve half as much as their dads and still carve out glorious careers.Just leave the winking and red mist to your fathers. More
