Former England captain Wayne Rooney was visibly moved, fighting back tears, as he watched his younger brother, John Rooney, orchestrate one of the greatest upsets in the long and storied history of the FA Cup. On Saturday, the 10th of January 2026, John's team, Macclesfield, pulled off a monumental shock by defeating the reigning champions, Crystal Palace, with a 2-1 victory at Moss Rose.
A Record-Breaking Giant-Killing
This was not just any cup upset. Macclesfield's triumph etched their name into the history books as the first ever club from the sixth tier of English football to eliminate a Premier League opponent from the FA Cup. The sheer scale of the achievement is underscored by the fact that a staggering 117 places separated the two teams in the English football pyramid before the match. This represents the largest gap ever overcome by an underdog in the competition's history.
Providing commentary for the BBC, an emotional Wayne Rooney could not hide his pride for his sibling. "I'm getting emotional," he admitted. "To see my younger brother, who's not long been a manager, beat a Premier League team.... I'm so proud. It's such an achievement. What he's achieved today, absolutely superb."
A Poignant Victory Amidst Tragedy
The historic win carried an even deeper emotional weight for Macclesfield, known as the Silkmen. The club and its community are still grieving the tragic loss of their 21-year-old forward, Ethan McLeod, who died in a car accident on December 16th while driving back from a match at Bedford.
John Rooney revealed he had received a touching message from McLeod's father before the game but chose to shield his players from the added pressure. "I had a nice message off his dad last night, and I was to send it to the lads or to tell them before the game, but I didn't really want to put that little extra bit of pressure on them with everything we've been through," the manager explained.
"So I thought I'd leave that until after the game. We need to go and see them (his parents) as well. It's been a really tough time. We've all stuck together through it. It's never, ever going to get easier. We've still got pictures up in the changing rooms that never go."
A Moment of Pure Football Magic
The result sends shockwaves through English football and perfectly encapsulates the magic of the FA Cup. For John Rooney, it is a career-defining moment that validates his early steps into management. For Wayne Rooney, it was a profound family moment played out on the national stage. And for Macclesfield FC, the victory is a glorious and poignant tribute to their lost teammate, a moment of joy and unity after a period of immense sorrow. The club's incredible journey in the competition has now become the ultimate underdog story.
