From George Best to Wayne Rooney, Manchester United has featured some of the best forwards ever to ever play the game. Here’s a list of our top 11 forwards to play for the Red Devils.
Wayne Rooney
After making an illustrious hat-trick to start his Man United career against Fenerbahce in the Champions League 2004, Wayne Rooney went on to become United’s all-team leading scorer with 253 goals. He won 16 trophies at Old Trafford, including five Premiership titles, the FA Cup, and the Champions League title in 2008.
George Best
With 181 goals in 474 appearances with Manchester United, George Best’s innate speed and dribbling excellence made him a genius footballer. The Northern Irishman helped the Red Devils win two First Division titles and a European Cup in 1968, the same year he finished first in the Ballon d’Or.
Eric Cantona
The French striker spent five years at Manchester United, helping the team win their first-ever Premier League era title in 1992. Winner of five Premiership titles and two League and FA Cup doubles, ‘The King’ of Old Trafford helped put back United on top as one of the best teams in world football. He finished with 64 team goals.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy
The Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy seemed to rain goals for Manchester United during his time in the Premiership, scoring a whopping 150 goals in 219 fixtures. He led the Red Devils in goals from 2002 – 2005, along the way winning the Premier League and an FA Cup. He also finished as the Champions League top scorer three times.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Undoubtedly one of the greatest footballers of all-time, Cristiano Ronaldo made his start at Manchester United in 2003 to replace David Beckham. He won his first Ballon d’Or at the age of 23 after an astonishing 2007-08 season with the Red Devils which saw the club win a treble of trophies including the Champions League, the Premier League title, and the FA Cup. Ronaldo left for Real Madrid the following season for a record transfer of £80 million.
Andy Cole
The English center-forward played for numerous teams in the 1990s including Arsenal and Newcastle but experienced the most success with the Manchester United side. He peaked in form as the replacement for a retiring Eric Cantona and then flourished in a partnership with Dwight Yorke in the 1998-99 season, helping the Red Devils to the historic Treble. By the end of his career, he scored 121 goals in 275 appearances and took home a Champions League, five Premier League trophies, and two FA Cups.
Ole Gunnar Solksjaer
The Norwegian striker played 366 games for United, scoring 126 goals in his 5 years with the club. Nicknamed both the “Baby Faced Assassin” and “Super-sub,” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich which helped the Red Devils secure the Treble.
Bobby Charlton
With 758 caps over a 17-year career with Manchester United, the prolific striker Bobby Charlton scored 249 goals and won three First Division titles along with an FA Cup and European Cup. The English legend also won the 1966 World Cup before retiring from international duties after the 1970 World Cup.
Mark Hughes
Known for the spectacular goal, Mark Hughes scored 119 goals in 345 appearances for the Red Devils. He enjoyed two legs at Manchester United, having left for Barcelona and then Bayern Munich before returning to the club in 1988 at the beginning of Fergie’s reign.
Dennis Viollet
With 179 goals in 293 appearances for Manchester United, the speedy Dennis Viollet won two First Division titles with the Red Devils in back to back years, 1955-56 and 1956-57 respectively.
Dennis Law
Known as “The King” to Manchester United, the 1964 Ballon d’Or winner Dennis Law appeared in 398 games and scored 237 times for the Red Devils. His relentless finishing helped the club achieve an FA Cup, two Football League Division titles, and the 1967-88 European Cup.
