Rashford closes in on 56-year-old Manchester United goal feat

The Red Devils frontman is close to equaling the legendary Charlton after scoring against Real Sociedad.

Marcus Rashford has moved to within one strike of becoming the first Englishman to score eight goals in a European campaign for Manchester United since Bobby Charlton.

The 23-year-old has been one of United’s standout performers in Europe this season. Despite the club suffering a group-stage exit in the Champions League, he still scored six goals in as many games. And he struck again on Thursday night to ensure a smooth start for their Europa League campaign.

Rashford’s strike in the 4-0 win over Real Sociedad, United’s third of the game, was his seventh in Europe this season.

7 – Marcus Rashford has scored seven goals in European competition this season for Manchester United – excluding qualifiers, this is the most by an Englishman in a season for the Red Devils since Bobby Charlton scored eight in the 1964-65 Fairs Cup. Devil. pic.twitter.com/I3ZiWa7Gyx

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 18, 2021

According to Opta, the striker is now a mere goal away from emulating Charlton by scoring eight times in Europe across a season in a Red Devils jersey.

Charlton, who was the last English player to achieve this feat, did so during United’s 1964/65 Fairs Cup campaign.

Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, meanwhile, is the only player to outscore Rashford in Europe this season, having scored eight goals in only five Champions League appearances.