| Date of Birth | 31 October 1997 |
|---|---|
| Place of Birth | Manchester, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | United Kingdom |
| Height | 188 cm |
| Weight | 80 kg |
Biography
Marcus Rashford is an English forward who plays for Barcelona on loan from Manchester United, as well as for the England national team.
He grew up in Manchester and joined the Manchester United academy at the age of seven, progressing through every level within the club. In late February 2016, at 18 years old, Rashford was given an opportunity due to an injury crisis and seized it in a way that instantly made him a legend: he scored twice on his senior debut and twice in his European debut against Midtjylland, and three days later scored a brace in his Premier League debut against Arsenal. In the same season, he scored in his first Manchester derby and also netted in his debut matches in the EFL Cup and the Champions League. The season ended with victory in the FA Cup — the first trophy of his career.
The Period Under José Mourinho
In 2016–17 under José Mourinho, Rashford became a full member of the first team, although he often played out of position due to competition in attack. He won the EFL Cup and the Europa League, scoring important goals throughout the knockout stages. The following years saw him combine the role of attacking leader with constant positional changes — from centre-forward to the left wing.
Development and Leadership
In the 2018–19 season, Rashford received the number 10 shirt — a symbolic status at United. In 2019, he signed a long-term contract, and in 2020–21 became one of the team’s key players despite a series of injuries. In 2022–23, he enjoyed the most productive spell of his career: he reached 100 goals for Manchester United and finished the season with 30 goals, becoming the first club player in many years to reach that milestone.
Loan Spells and a New Chapter
After that, difficulties began: a drop in form, internal disciplinary stories, and then a conflict over playing expectations with the new coaching staff. In February 2025, Rashford went on loan to Aston Villa, where he scored in the FA Cup and the league. In the summer of 2025, he continued the season on loan at Barcelona with an option to buy, made his La Liga debut, and immediately scored two goals in his first Champions League match for the Catalan club.
England National Team Career
Rashford made his debut for England in May 2016 and scored in his very first match, becoming the youngest English player to score on his debut for the national team. He played at Euro 2016 (the youngest player of the tournament), the 2018 World Cup, Euro 2020 (appearing in the final), and the 2022 World Cup. He was not included in the preliminary squad for Euro 2024.
Personal Life
Rashford grew up in working-class areas of Manchester and has always emphasized that his character was shaped by his family. His mother, Melanie Maynard, raised the children alone and worked multiple jobs; Marcus openly said that she sometimes skipped meals to ensure her children had enough food.
He has four older siblings, and two of his brothers have been involved in managing his representation. There is a football connection in the family — he is a cousin of footballer Lois Maynard.
Rashford is a Christian and has stated that faith is reflected in the kind of people we become. In May 2022, he announced his engagement to Lucia Loi (they had known each other since school), but in June 2023 it became known that the couple had separated.
He enjoys playing PlayStation games and prefers music in the rap and grime genres.
Interesting Facts
- He started playing as a goalkeeper in childhood and named goalkeeper Tim Howard as his idol.
- At 11, he became the youngest participant in United’s school scholarship program (usually players join at 12).
- In the academy, he was fast-tracked to older age groups: he played in the “cage” with Pogba and Lingard, which greatly improved his technique.
- After his campaign for free school meals in the United Kingdom, a FareShare warehouse was named after his mother — Melanie Maynard House.
- He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester for his public work and became the youngest recipient of such an award in the university’s history.
- His mural in Withington after the Euro 2020 final was vandalized due to racist abuse, but local residents covered the wall with messages of support, and the artist restored the portrait.
