Reaching the pinnacle of any sport demands more than just talent; it requires a mindset forged in confidence and self-belief. Few understand this better than two athletes who dominated their fields as teenagers: football legend Wayne Rooney and darts prodigy Luke Littler. In a revealing conversation for BBC Sport's *The Wayne Rooney Show*, the pair explored the unique pressures and the essential arrogance needed to become number one.

Rooney famously announced himself to the world at 16 with a last-minute wonder-goal for Everton against Arsenal. By 21, he was a Premier League champion with Manchester United. Littler's trajectory has been similarly meteoric, rocketing to darts' world number one spot after reaching the World Championship final at 16 and winning it at 17. Both were thrust into a relentless spotlight before they could legally buy a pint.

So when did they first believe they could be the best? For Rooney, it was immediate. "I felt like I was the best player at 16," he told Littler, emphasizing a crucial trait for elite performance. "I think you have to have a certain level of arrogance to be at your best."

Littler's awakening came from dominating players old enough to be his father. Starting in pub leagues against disgruntled adults, he learned to back his ability. "When you've showed a bit of arrogance, the more you do it... as long as you feel comfortable about doing it, that's all that matters," Littler explained, recalling how beating seasoned veterans proved his own potential.

The parallels extend off the field. Both won the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award, separated by 22 years, and both had to navigate a media frenzy they were unprepared for. Rooney offered a veteran's perspective on the glare of fame, a baptism by fire that every young champion must eventually endure. Their stories are a masterclass in the mentality required not just to reach the top, but to own it from a young age.