Ranking the 5 best Manchester United attackers of the 21st century

#3 Ruud van Nistelrooy

Ruud van Nistelrooy was a goal machine.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was one of the most prolific attackers in Manchester United's history. The Dutchman was a lethal goal machine, racking up exactly 150 strikes across competitions in just over 200 games for United.

Despite his prolific exploits, Van Nistelrooy won just one Premier League title at the club. He scored 25 times in United's triumphant 2002-03 campaign to win his lone Premier League Golden Boot.

Barring an injury-plagued 2003-04 campaign, where he scored only 16 times, Van Nistelrooy netted at least 30 times in each of his five seasons at United.

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#2 Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney was a lethal goalscorer for Manchester United.

Wayne Rooney made a blistering start to his Manchester United career, scoring a hat-trick on his club debut against Fenerbahce in the Champions League. Still a teenager at the time, Rooney made Old Trafford sit up and take notice of his goalscoring prowess.

To his credit, Rooney proved that he was no flash in the pan. Over the next decade, the Englishman would score 250 more times in over 550 games across competitions to become United's record goalscorer.

Rooney scored a number of fabulous goals for United and also conjured almost 150 assists to endear himself to the Old Trafford faithful. The 35-year-old eight times in what turned out to be his final season at United in 2016-17.

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#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo first made his name at Manchester United.

Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best attacker to have played for Manchester United since the turn of the century.

The 36-year-old first arrived at Old Trafford as a precocious teenager almost two decades ago, making heads turn with his prowess on the ball. Under the able tutelage of a certain Sir Alex Ferguson, Ronaldo blossomed into a world-class attacker, one of the best in the game's history.

In six glorious seasons in his first stint at the club, Ronaldo scored over 100 goals, winning three Premier League titles and one Champions League title. It was at United that Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or award (in 2008).

Ronaldo has made a flying start this season on his return to United for the first time in more than a decade. He has scored five times in only seven games across competitions.