Manchester United’s World Cup history runs deeper than most clubs. Nineteen players under contract with the Red Devils have scored at the tournament across six decades. Lisandro Martinez made it 20 with a curling strike for Argentina against Cape Verde in the 2026 round of 32.
The list starts with Bobby Charlton in 1966 and runs through the current squad. It includes legends, journeymen, and a few surprises. Here is every United player who scored at a World Cup while still on the club’s books.
The 1960s through the 1980s
Bobby Charlton kicked things off in 1966 with a fine strike against Mexico. England won the whole thing that year. Bryan Robson scored after 27 seconds against France in 1982. Norman Whiteside, still the youngest player in World Cup history at 17 in 1982, scored for Northern Ireland against Algeria in 1986.
Jesper Olsen scored four goals for Denmark in 1986. His first came on a penalty against Spain in the round of 16.
The Beckham to Ronaldo era
David Beckham scored his first World Cup goal in 1998 against Colombia. It was a trademark free kick, arrowing into the top corner. That tournament ended badly for him, but the goal was pure class. Diego Forlan scored as a United player in 2002 against Senegal. His real World Cup moment came in 2010 when he won the Golden Boot, but he was at Atletico Madrid by then.
Ruud van Nistelrooy only scored one World Cup goal, which feels low for a striker of his caliber. It came against Ivory Coast in 2006, just before he left United. Cristiano Ronaldo opened his World Cup account against Iran in 2006. He has three goals in the 2026 tournament as of this writing.
Park Ji-Sung scored in three separate World Cups. His first as a United player came in 2006. Javier Hernandez scored for Mexico against France at the 2010 World Cup, just after signing for United that May.
More recent names
Wayne Rooney did not score his first World Cup goal until 2014. He finished against Uruguay. Robin van Persie’s first United World Cup goal was that famous diving header against Spain in 2014. Netherlands won 5-1.
Marouane Fellaini scored for Belgium in 2018 during a comeback win over Japan. Romelu Lukaku scored four times in that tournament. He is Belgium’s all-time top scorer. Marcus Rashford scored a free kick against Wales in 2022. Casemiro opened his World Cup account with a stunning strike against Switzerland that same year. Bruno Fernandes scored against Uruguay in 2022.
Matheus Cunha scored a brace against Haiti in 2026 for his first World Cup goals. He had a monster first season at Old Trafford. Amad scored a late winner for Ivory Coast against Ecuador in 2026. Lisandro Martinez curled one in from distance against Cape Verde.
That is 20 players, spanning 60 years, all wearing the United badge when they found the net on the world’s biggest stage.
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