Marcus Rashford has etched his name alongside English football royalty. The forward netted his fourth career World Cup goal during England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia in the 2026 group stage opener.
This milestone places Rashford level with Sir Bobby Charlton and Michael Owen on the all-time national list. At 28 years old, he now holds a realistic path to becoming England’s outright top scorer in World Cup history.
Harry Kane remains the nation's leading marksman with eight tournament goals. Jude Bellingham also contributed to the win, which marked a historic benchmark as England’s 100th goal in World Cup competition.
The match highlights the scale of the 2026 tournament. This is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams across three host nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Rashford’s performance continues the form established during Qatar 2022. Having scored three goals in that previous campaign, his consistent output on the global stage signals a definitive redemption arc for the Manchester United star.