The Wembley dream: Rooney breaks Sir Bobby Charlton's England scoring record

The 84th minute penalty made him the first England player to score a half-century of international goals.

LONDON: Wayne Rooney broke Sir Bobby Charlton's 45-year-old England scoring record on Tuesday when he netted his 50th international goal in a 2016 European Championship qualifier victory at home over Switzerland.

The England captain slammed a penalty into the top-left corner in the 84th minute at Wembley Stadium to put Roy Hodgson's side 2-0 up after Harry Kane had opened the scoring.

Rooney's goal took the 29-year-old Manchester United striker past Sir Charlton's mark, which had stood since May 1970, and made him the first England player to score a half-century of international goals.

It came on his 107th appearance for his country, which is one more than Charlton achieved during a storied international career that took in England's triumph on home soil at the 1966 World Cup.

Read: Rooney equals Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 49 England goals

Rooney pointed to the sky in celebration and appeared to wipe away tears after being granted a standing ovation by the majority of the 75,751 fans in attendance.

The magic moment: The penalty which saw Rooney become England's top scoring player. PHOTO: AFP

He had equalled Sir Charlton's record, and moved a goal ahead of Gary Lineker, by opening the scoring from the penalty spot in England's 6-0 win in San Marino on Saturday, which secured their place at Euro 2016.

The former Everton striker is also closing in on Sir Charlton's United scoring record -- requiring 17 more goals to surpass the former midfielder's tally of 249.

Read: I've not been good enough: Rooney

But he is currently struggling for goals at club level. Despite a hat-trick in a recent Champions League play-off win away to Belgian side Club Brugge, Rooney has not scored a league goal since April.