Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford MBE is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for the England national team and Premier League side Manchester United. He is known for his attacking, dribbling, composure, and athleticism. He has also used his platform off the pitch to be a political activist and philanthropist to drive societal change and end child hunger.

Early Life

He was born on October 31, 1997, in Wythenshawe, Manchester, England. Rashford attended Ashton-on-Mersey School and played for their football team. He was also scouted by local club Fletcher Moss Rangers, where he played alongside future Manchester City player, Kelechi Iheanacho. Rashford's talent was quickly noticed by the coaches at Manchester United, and he was invited to join their youth academy at the age of seven.

Club Career

He made his first-team debut in February 2016 under then-manager Louis van Gaal. He scored twice on his debut in a Europa League game against Midtjylland, and then went on to score another two goals on his Premier League debut against Arsenal just a few days later.

Rashford quickly became a regular in the Manchester United first team and helped the team win the FA Cup in 2016. He continued to impress in the following seasons, scoring important goals in big games, including the winner against Manchester City in the 2016-2017 season.

Under new manager Jose Mourinho, Rashford's playing time became more limited, but he still managed to make an impact when given the chance. He scored important goals in the Europa League and the League Cup, helping Manchester United win both competitions in the 2016-2017 season.

In recent years, Rashford has established himself as a key player for Manchester United, both as a striker and as a winger. He has scored many important goals, including a last-minute winner against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League in 2019, and he was the club's top scorer in the 2019-2020 season.

He had a poor season in 2021-22, only scoring five goals in 32 appearances, however, under current manager Erik ten Hag, he returned to his very best form. On February 26th, 2023, Rashford scored his team’s second goal in the EFL Cup final against Newcastle United, helping his team win the trophy.

He has currently scored 119 goals in 345 appearances for Manchester United in all competitions in his career.

International Career

He made his international debut at the age of 18 for England on May 27th, 2016, in a friendly against Australia. He scored the opening goal of a 2–1 win after three minutes, becoming the youngest Englishman to score on his international debut.

Rashford was initially left out of England's squad for Euro 2016, but he was called up as a late replacement after an injury to another player. He became the youngest player ever to represent England in a major tournament and scored in his first game in the tournament, a 2-1 win over Wales.

Since then, Rashford has become a regular for the England national team and has played in several major tournaments, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the 2020 European Championship, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He has scored 15 goals in 51 appearances for England.

Records

• Youngest scorer on his debut for Manchester United in a European competition (18 years, 141 days).

• He scored on his Premier League debut, Europa League debut, and Champions League debut for Manchester United.

• Youngest player to score a hat-trick for Manchester United in a European competition (21 years, 317 days).

• He scored on his England national team debut in May 2016.

• He scored a goal in his first three Premier League games for Manchester United, becoming the third player in Premier League history to do so.

• He scored a goal in his first Manchester derby appearance, becoming the youngest scorer in the fixture's history (18 years, 141 days).

Awards and Achievements

Personal Life

Outside of football, Rashford is known for his philanthropic work and activism. In June 2020, he wrote an open letter to the UK government calling for the extension of free school meals for children from low-income families during the summer holidays. The letter gained widespread attention and led to the government eventually extending the program. He was later awarded the MBE for his efforts.

Net Worth

As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $80 million.

Family

Rashford was raised in a single-parent household by his mother, Melanie Maynard, who worked as a cashier to support him and his four siblings. His father, Robert Rashford, was absent for most of his childhood and reportedly had a history of drug and alcohol addiction. He has two brothers, Dwaine Maynard and Dane Rashford, and two sisters, Chantelle Rashford and Claire Maynard.

Partner

Marcus Rashford has been in a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Lucia Loi. The couple reportedly met in school and have been together since they were teenagers.

Houses

In 2021, he reportedly purchased a luxurious new home worth £2.8 million in Wilmslow, Cheshire, which is located near Manchester. The property features five bedrooms, a gym, a cinema room, and an outdoor swimming pool.

Rashford also owns a £1.8 million mansion in Bowdon, Greater Manchester, which he purchased in 2019. The property includes a gym, a home cinema, and a games room, as well as a spacious garden.