Marcus Rashford scored England’s fourth on Wednesday night as they beat Croatia 4-2 in their World Cup opener. While Rashford could not have asked for a better start to the World Cup, his Manchester United future appears to be in tatters. It has been a whirlwind decade for the 28-year-old.
After bursting onto the scene in February 2016, Rashford has had a rollercoaster career full of highs and lows. With his time at Old Trafford potentially coming to a permanent end this summer, MEN Sport has taken a look at the rise and subsequent fall of Rashford at United.
February 2016
On February 25, Rashford makes his debut for the Reds against FC Midtjylland. He scored twice as United ran out 5-1 winners on the night, 6-3 on aggregate. The teenager takes to social media afterwards to write: “A dream debut, great to score twice and contribute to the team.”
Three days later, he scores another brace, this time in the Premier League against Arsenal in a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford. The game is also remembered for head coach Louis van Gaal flopping on the touchline in front of the fourth official. “This is my first game in the Premier League, so obviously it’s been amazing,” Rashford told Sky Sports.
“To score two has been a bonus, so hopefully we can carry it on and go again the next game. It was a shock playing midweek as well. But that maybe benefited me because I wasn’t thinking about the game too much. It’s just crazy.”
After the Arsenal win, MEN Sport christened Rashford as the heir to Wayne Rooney.
March 2016
On March 20, 2016, Rashford becomes the youngest ever goalscorer in the Manchester derby as his goal secures a 1-0 win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. That morning, reports suggest Van Gaal will be replaced by Jose Mourinho in the summer.
May 2016
Despite leading United to the FA Cup, Van Gaal is sacked and replaced by Mourinho, on May 27. Three days later, Rashford signs a new contract until 2020 after ending his debut campaign with eight goals in 18 appearances.
He is named the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year.
September 2016
Rashford finishes runner-up to Portugal’s Renato Sanches in the Golden Boy.
May 2017
Started the Europa League final that United won 2-0 vs Ajax. This wrapped up an impressive season for the Reds winning the Europa League, League Cup and Community Shield.
He also played the most matches of any United player that season (53).
October 2017
Rashford finishes third in the Golden Boy behind winner Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.
March 2018
On March 10, Rashford makes his first start of the year and scores twice as United beat Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford. Three days later, the Reds crash out of the Champions League against Sevilla and Mourinho is criticised in the media for continuously playing Rashford on the wing, rather than as a centre-forward.
August 2018
Following Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s departure, Rashford is awarded the No.10 shirt on August 5.
September 2018
Having not started all season up to that point, Rashford is told by Jamie Carragher that he might need to leave United. “Romelu Lukaku is in front of Rashford and I don’t see Rashford displacing him as long as he is there,” Carragher tells Sky Sports.
“But remember when Lukaku was at Chelsea and he had to come away and go to Everton. Then he ended up as top scorer and got his move to Man United.
“Possibly Everton is the sort of club you are looking at, just below the top six, for someone like Rashford, similar to what Lukaku did. Does he have to leave United? I think so.
“Is he good enough to displace Lukaku? Is Rashford good enough to be Manchester United’s centre-forward for them trying to win the Premier League or the Champions League? He may not be.”
Three days after Carragher’s comments, Mourinho fired back in a press conference on September 14. “People speaking about his minutes, they are a bit confused,” he said.
“Marcus Rashford is not [then Liverpool striker] Dominic Solanke. He’s not [then Chelsea midfielder] Ruben Loftus-Cheek. He’s not [then Everton forward] Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
“He’s Marcus Rashford, Manchester United player, with an incredible number of appearances and an incredible number of minutes played at the highest level in the best possible competitions.”
December 2018
On December 18, Mourinho is sacked by United and replaced, initially on an interim basis, by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Four days later, Rashford scores inside three minutes as Solskjaer wins his first match in charge 5-1 against Cardiff City.
Rashford continues his good form leading to praise from Solskjaer on December 30, 2018. “Marcus has been different class since I came,” he told Sky Sports.
“He’s scored two now in three. His work rate is unbelievable.
“He closes down, chases, runs in behind, and the skill for the first goal for Paul [Pogba]… the first thing, he holds the ball up, he hasn’t got the right to get past them. He’s got all the chances in the world, the potential of being a top, top, top striker.”
March 2019
Rashford scores his first competitive penalty for United as the Reds seal a stunning 3–1 win in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain. This sends the club through to the quarter-final on the away goals rule.
July 2019
Rashford signs a new contract on July 1, keeping him to the club until June 2023. There is an option to add a further year to the deal.
April 2020
On April 21, Rashford sheds light on the tough time he had under Mourinho. “It was tough but I think when you look back on it in five or six years, they’re the moments that give you that mental toughness,” he told the Utd Podcast.
“As an all-round player I’ve improved a lot and a lot of it is down to those two years under Jose. We had ups and downs. When I look back at it, it was a tough period but definitely a period that made me a better player.”
October 2020
Rashford scores his first United hat-trick in a 5-0 Champions League win vs RB Leipzig. Only the second hat-trick ever scored by a United substitute with the first being scored by his manager Solskjaer in 1999.
February 2021
He makes his 250th appearance vs West Ham. Rashford becomes the fourth youngest player to reach that milestone for United.
October 2021
Following Euro 2020, Rashford undergoes shoulder surgery and only returns to football on October 11. When he does come back, it takes some time for his form to return.
November 2021
Solskjaer is sacked on November 21 after a humbling defeat at Watford. Ralf Rangnick is appointed interim manager until the end of the season. He notably warns United they need ‘open heart surgery’ to return to their past glory.
July 2022
Erik ten Hag is appointed Solskjaer’s successor.
December 2022
After a good start to the season, Rashford’s contract is extended by a further year on December 20. However, on New Year’s Eve he is dropped for the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers after oversleeping and missing the team briefing.
Rashford shrugs that off to come on and score the winner in a 1-0 victory at Molineux.
May 2023
Rashford scores his 30th goal of the season against Chelsea on May 25. A couple of days later, Ten Hag said: “There’s a lot of room for improvement in his game.
“I’m convinced he could score even more. I think when you take, for instance, the last 10 games, he didn’t score so many goals. I think only two or three.
“We supported him where we could, with the way of play but also in his mental mindset, so we are happy with that. But, yeah, we have to push for more and I am sure he’s capable to score 40 goals in a season, to make also for him the next step.”
At the end of the season, he was voted by the club’s supporters and playing squad as the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year.
July 2023
He signs another new contract that expires in 2028 and makes him one of the highest earners at the club.
January 2024
Rashford calls in sick for the FA Cup clash against Newport County on January 28. Earlier that week he had been spotted on a night out in Belfast.
“Marcus has taken responsibility for his actions,” a United statement read. “This has been dealt with as an internal disciplinary matter, which is now closed.”
October 2024
Ten Hag is sacked by United and is soon replaced by Ruben Amorim.
November 2024
On November 24, Rashford starts and scores during Amorim’s first game but United draw 1-1 with Ipswich Town.
December 2024
During the Europa League clash with Viktoria Plzen, Rashford is replaced on 56 minutes. Three days later, on December 15, Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho are not picked in the matchday squad to face Manchester City.
United win and before and after the game, Amorim insists no disciplinary issues are taking place. Rashford then speaks to journalist Henry Winter, two days after the Manchester derby.
He expresses his disappointment at not playing and suggests he is ready for a ‘new challenge’. He is subsequently dropped and does not play for United for the remainder of December.
January 2025
After not playing in January, Rashford is brought up in a press conference at Fulham. “It’s always the same reason – the training, the way I see a footballer should do in life. It’s every day, every detail,” Amorim responded when asked about the forward.
“If things don’t change, I will not change. It’s the same situation for every player, if you do the maximum and right things we can use every player.
“You can see on the bench we miss a bit of pace on the bench, but I would put [United’s 63-year-old goalkeeper coach Jorge] Vital before a player who doesn’t give the maximum every day.” United insist afterwards that Amorim was making a broader point and not singling out Rashford in particular.
February 2025
Rashford joins Aston Villa on loan for the remainder of the season. An option to buy is included in the deal, priced at £40m.
July 2025
Villa do not sign Rashford permanently at the end of the season and the forward becomes part of a so-called ‘Bomb Squad’ at Carrington. On July 23, United agree a loan deal with Barcelona which includes a £26m option to buy.
June 2026
On Monday, June 15, Barca allow the £26m clause to buy Rashford, to expire. Instead, they purchase Anthony Gordon from Newcastle.
As things stand, United’s preferred option is to sell Rashford permanently.


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