Rio Ferdinand in awkward X gaffe after accidentally uploading fake Man Utd image

RIO FERDINAND was involved in an awkward online gaffe after he shared a fake screenshot from a match he actually played in.

Ferdinand, 46, was trying to back up his argument that Wayne Rooney was one of the best strikers England has ever had when he shared the faux snap to his X account.

2 Rio Ferdinand uploaded a fake picture in an awkward online gaffe Credit: PA

2 Ferdinand uploaded an edited picture claiming Wayne Rooney had scored a hat-trick against AC Milan Credit: X

Promoting his interview with former Three Lions and Manchester United teammate Rooney, Ferdinand wrote: "Do not compare this animal to the likes of Kane, Shearer and them mans pls…

"Most Complete CF in Premier League History."

Following on from that post, Ferdinand tried to evidence his argument with a screengrab of a game in which Rooney had excelled during his playing days.

The image showed Wazza stood opposite David Beckham and Ronaldinho with the match ball tucked under his arm after United had beaten AC Milan 4-0 in the Champions League - with Rooney scoring a hat-trick.

However, the photo had been doctored with much of the image being wrong.

Despite United actually winning 4-0, Rooney only scored two of the goals, with Darren Fletcher and Park Ji-Sung getting the others.

While the Man Utd kit Rooney was wearing in the picture was not from the 2009-10 season that the game took place in.

Fans were quick to point out Ferdinand's seemingly accidental gaffe, suggesting that he should remember the fixture having played the full 90 minutes.

One wrote: "Rio, you played in this team ffs. How can you not realise that’s fake?"

While another added: "A fake photo in a match you played in??"

And a third teased: "Still time to delete this."

Ferdinand and Rooney played together some 350 times for club and country, winning five Premier League titles, one Champions League and three League Cups together.

There are few players who are better placed to pass judgement on Rooney's career that Ferdinand, having seen him up close so many times.

But even Wazza isn't certain he wins out in the debate about who is better between himself and Harry Kane .

He said on Ferdinand's podcast : "As a player, I’m not sure [who is better]. I think I could do things which potentially he couldn’t. I was nastier than him as well.

"In terms of goal scoring, he creates goals. People say, ‘Oh, he’s scored against San Marino or this team.’ He scores every game.

"Does he play well all the time? No, but for me he’s above everyone."