Marcus Rashford joined an exclusive list of Manchester United players after reaching a half century of Premier League goals for the club against Leicester, the England international becoming the 11th player to achieve the feat for the Red Devils.
The most successful club in the history of English football in terms of league championships, United have dominated throughout much of the Premier League era with Sir Alex Ferguson’s dynasty seeing the Manchester side reign supreme for almost the entirety of the Premier League’s first two decades.
Some of the Premier League’s finest talents have represented United in recent years and we’ve decided to profile the club’s most prolific players of modern times, here are the rankings of every player to score 50+ Premier League goals for Manchester United.
Marcus Rashford – 50 goals
The latest star to join this list of goalscoring greats, Rashford has racked up 50 Premier League goals for the club since bursting onto the scene as a teenager at Old Trafford almost five years ago.
Rashford marked his first-team debut with two goals in a Europa League clash against FC Midtjylland as a 17-year-old, before scoring twice on his Premier League debut against Arsenal just three days later.
That brace saw the forward become the club’s third-youngest Premier League goalscorer behind only Federico Macheda and Danny Welbeck, and the academy graduate has since established himself as a key player for both club and country scoring 50 league goals in 156 appearances for the Red Devils.
The 23-year-old enjoyed the best goalscoring season of his career last term to net 22 times in all competitions and can play through the centre or out wide, Rashford growing in stature both on and off the pitch as the home-grown hero of an emerging side under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The England international’s 50th Premier League strike for United in a 2-2 draw against Leicester on Boxing Day 2020 saw him become the third-youngest player to achieve the milestone, behind a certain pair of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Anthony Martial – 52 goals
Just two goals ahead of his teammate is Anthony Martial, who netted his 50th Premier League goal against Southampton last season – a campaign in which the forward was named as United’s Player of the Season after scoring a career-best 17 league goals.
The France international is an exciting talent but has perhaps struggled to replicate his best form on a consistent basis, moving between a left-wing and striking role under a succession of managers.
Martial returned to a centre-forward role last season, however, and delivered a series of encouraging performances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, his movement providing a fluid focal point for the Norwegian.
A stylistically modern forward capable of drifting wide and into dangerous areas from a central position, Martial looks capable of fulfilling his potential in a new-look United side and climbing these rankings in the coming campaigns.
David Beckham – 62 goals
Arguably the first modern star to transcend the sport, Beckham’s brilliance made him a superstar both on and off the pitch, emerging amongst United’s fabled ‘Class of 92’ to form part of a golden era at Old Trafford.
The midfielder announced himself in truly stunning style during the mid-nineties with a goal from the half-way line at Wimbledon, a fabulous piece of technique that would prove one of many throughout a memorable career.
Beckham won six league titles, two FA cups and the Champions League amongst his honours as a United player, developing a reputation as the finest set-piece taker in world football before earning Galactico status at Real Madrid.
Twice named as runner-up for the FIFA World Player of the Year award, Beckham scored 62 goals in 265 Premier League appearances for the club.
18 years since David Beckham scored this beauty for Manchester United ? pic.twitter.com/h2VsEEUicR
— Goal (@goal) March 16, 2020
Eric Cantona – 64 goals
Cantona’s goal tally may be modest in comparison to some of the names on this list, but few players are as truly revered by the United faithful.
Ferguson’s signing of the forward from Leeds proved to be the catalyst behind the club’s drought-breaking title in the Premier League’s inaugural season, Cantona inspiring United to a first championship in 26 years before adding a further three over the next four campaigns.
Rightfully recognised amongst the greatest players in the club’s history, Cantona swaggered into Old Trafford as a seemingly perfect fit between player and club, chest out and trademark collar upturned.
The Frenchman scored 64 Premier League goals for the Red Devils and was twice named as Player of the Year, though his impact was far greater than the tangible evidence in the statistics.
Read – Eric Cantona and how he made us feel
Cristiano Ronaldo – 84 goals
Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly a man who needs no introduction, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner regarded amongst the finest footballers to have graced the beautiful game.
After arriving as a raw but talented teenager from Sporting Lisbon, it would be at Manchester United where the fleet-footed star began his ascendancy to the pinnacle of the sport.
Ronaldo evolved into arguably the world’s best player during a six-season stay at Old Trafford, scoring 84 Premier League goals and helping the club to three consecutive titles between 2007 and 2009.
Back-to-back PFA Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year doubles came during the first two of those successes, the latter also including a first Ballon d’Or after helping United to a Premier League and Champions League double.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – 91 goals
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may be patrolling the Manchester United dug-out at present, though the Norwegian was once one of the most ruthless finishers in England’s top flight.
Arriving as an unheralded signing from Molde, Solskjaer quickly showed his abilities scoring 18 Premier League goals in his first campaign, part of 91 he managed during a decade spent at the club.
Solskjaer’s career delivered five league titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League, the forward memorably scoring a stoppage-time winner to seal the latter success as part of United’s famed treble-winning season in 1999.
Nicknamed the ‘Baby-faced Assassin’, Solskaer also developed a reputation as a super-sub and is the fourth-highest scoring replacement in Premier League history, scoring 17 times when introduced from the bench.
Andy Cole – 93 goals
The third-highest goalscorer in Premier League history, Cole perhaps does not get the plaudits often reserved for those alongside side him amongst the division’s finest forwards.
Cole, unfairly, was often a maligned figure during his career despite a formidable goal record, one that includes 187 Premier League goals, 93 of which came during a seven-season spell at Manchester United.
That period also delivered five league titles and the Champions League amongst his list of honours, Cole forming a telepathic understanding with strike partner Dwight Yorke during a glittering era for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
His then British transfer-record move from Newcastle proved money well spent, Cole a confidence player who when on-song, few could stop.
Ruud van Nistelrooy – 95 goals
Another British-record signing at the time of his arrival, the Dutchman proved to be one of the most lethal finishers in Premier League history, scoring 150 goals in just 219 appearances in all competitions for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.
During that time he won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup, being named PFA Player of the Year in 2001/02 and as the Premier League’s Player of the Season in 2002/03. With anybody who possessed betting mastery well aware that backing the deadly frontman to score during the early noughties was a sure-fire way to fatten your wallet.
Winner of the Premier League’s Golden Boot in 2002/03, Van Nistelrooy’s tally of 95 Premier League goals came in just 150 appearances, the forward amongst the most clinical frontmen the division has witnessed.
See also – Appreciating just how lethal Ruud van Nistelrooy was in his five years at Manchester United
Paul Scholes – 107 goals
The second member of the Class of 92 to make this particular feature, Scholes place in Premier League folklore is assured following a career that delivered 11 league titles amongst 25 honours won at Old Trafford.
One of the great midfielders of his generation, Scholes racked up over a century of league goals and is the most successful English player of the Premier League era.
In truth, Scholes was perhaps a player ahead of his time, his flawless technique and ability to dictate play synonymous with the style of the Xavi’s and Andres Iniesta’s of future years.
The ‘Ginger Prince’ as he affectionately came to be known had actually began his career as a forward player before dropping deeper, though never lost that knack of scoring goals – ranging from close-range tap-ins to the thunderbastards we all remember so fondly.
Paul Scholes.
Away at Bradford.You know what happens next…#GoalOfTheDay @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/Xj3zQVWMDI
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 7, 2019
Ryan Giggs – 109 goals
One of just three players to have reached a century of Premier League goals and assists, Ryan Giggs unrivalled career at the summit of the English game is one unlikely to ever be surpassed.
The Welsh international won 13 league titles during United’s dominant reign, part of a haul of major trophies that also included four FA Cups and two Champions League titles.
No player in history has ever made more than his 963 appearances in a United shirt, his longevity and quality leaving him with 162 Premier League assists, the most in the competition’s history and a huge 51 more than second-placed Cesc Fabregas.
The only player to score in 21 consecutive Premier League campaigns and the first to reach 100 goals in the division for United, his tally of 109 is the second-highest of any Red Devils’ player.
Wayne Rooney – 183 goals
The greatest goalscorer in the history of both Manchester United and England, Rooney’s record of 183 Premier League goals for United is the most ever scored for a single club.
At his peak, few forwards in Europe could compare with Rooney, who won every major honour available during his time at Old Trafford, one of just two English footballers alongside teammate Michael Carrick to have achieved the feat.
His 206 Premier League goals puts him second only to Alan Shearer in the all-time rankings, whilst he also has the third-most assists in the history of the competition.
Read – Five of the worst players to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or
Read Also – Best of 2020: Picking our Premier League Team of the Year
