Rooney's Challenge to Rashford: A Path to Manchester United's Scoring Record

Wayne Rooney believes only one current player can touch his Manchester United goalscoring record – Marcus Rashford – but insists it will only happen if the forward rediscovers his hunger for the club.

Rooney, whose 253 goals keep him out in front at the top of United’s all-time list, used his new podcast, Stick to United, to deliver a blunt challenge to the 28-year-old.

Rooney’s challenge to Rashford

"It’s just such a strange one with Marcus because I think we know he’s got the ability. I think he’s shown that," Rooney said. "For me, has he got the hunger, does he want to play for Manchester United?"

Rashford’s United story is entering what feels like a second act. A mixed loan spell at Barcelona last season did not turn into a permanent move, and the England international is now back at Old Trafford, involved in Michael Carrick’s pre-season plans.

Only a year ago, Rashford appeared to be edging towards the exit, with a loan at Aston Villa in 2025 part of his attempt to reset his career away from the club where he grew up. Now, with his future back in Manchester, Rooney has made it clear what must change.

"If he wants to play for Manchester United, I think the first thing he has to do – I’ve been there in 2010 when I asked to leave the football club – he has to build a relationship with the fans," Rooney said.

"And the easiest way to do that is to work hard and body language. I think Marcus’ body language isn’t great, and so it might be something he has to work on. He might have to work with someone to make his body language look better."

The criticism did not stop there. Rooney underlined that effort, not talent, will define Rashford’s second chance.

"I think his work rate has to improve, but if he wants to be at the football club, he just needs to knuckle down," he added. "You do it, and he’s a young lad. He’s from Manchester. He’s the one player who can go and get my goalscoring record."

Record in sight, career at a crossroads

Rashford currently sits 15th on United’s all-time scoring list with 138 goals. The raw numbers show how much ground he still has to make up, but also why Rooney sees him as the only realistic threat to his total if everything clicks again.

His last appearance for United came in December 2024, before he fell out of favour under then-manager Ruben Amorim. That rift sent him on temporary spells to Villa Park and the Nou Camp, a reminder of his talent but also of a career drifting away from its roots.

Rooney made it clear he does not want Rashford’s renaissance to happen anywhere else.

"I don’t want to see Marcus Rashford doing well at Aston Villa or doing well at Barcelona," he said. "I want to see him doing well at Manchester United and scoring goals for Manchester United. But that means he has to just get his head down, work his socks off, and then be more positive."

The message was as much about Rashford’s surroundings as his performances.

"But it’s on him. If he’s back playing for Manchester United, I think he has to have a real close look at who’s round him," Rooney continued.

"Only he can say who the people are around him who he really trusts. Because there’s not many people you trust really. It’d be a small amount of people, keep them close to him, go into training, work hard, get himself right. If he does that, he’ll be fine."

The record is there. The stage is set again at Old Trafford. Now the question is whether Rashford wants it badly enough to chase down Rooney’s mark in United red, rather than watch his potential fade somewhere else.