Not entirely sure where you're going here with the Rooney thing doesn't make sense.
That said I held my hand up that my rush to award Mo Africa's greatest player of the year was a bit flippant and in following posts tried to give it a bit more serious thought. He still very well may be though.
Essien is an easy one to discount. Great player though he was. Drogba was right place, right time. Toure was a phenomenon but I can't have him being a better player or sporting figure than Mo.
Eto'o and Weah may have a case but it's between them 3.