Who has scored the most goals in the Manchester derby? Erling Haaland chasing Wayne Rooney on Man City-Man United list image
Manchester City faced Manchester United in the latest derby match on Sunday, September, with both teams having experienced contrasting starts to the 2025-26 season.
City headed to Old Trafford having won each of their first three Premier League matches under Enzo Maresca, while United had one win from games against Hull, Ipswich and Everton.
In an action-packed match, Erling Haaland scored a controversial goal with an hour played and City closed out a 1-0 victory despite playing with 10 men after Phil Foden's 23rd-minute red card.
Haaland is no stranger to feats of goalscoring brilliance, of course, but it is remarkable that he is one of the leading marksmen in this fixture given he only joined City in 2022.
So where does the Norwegian phenomenon currently reside in the storied history of the Manchester derby?
MORE: Erling Haaland's goal scoring record against 'big six' clubs
Who has scored the most goals in the Manchester derby?
Wayne Rooney's iconic overhead kick to snatch a 2-1 win for United over City at Old Trafford in February 2011 stands as one of the greatest goals in the long history of this fixture.
It was also part of a haul of 11 derby strikes that puts Rooney top of the all-time standings.
City duo Francis Lee and Joe Hayes are up next on 10 apiece. Erling Haaland is now level with United and England great Bobby Charlton and Rooney's contemporary Sergio Aguero.
MORE: A closer look at the 2025/26 Premier League Golden Boot race as Haaland hopes to repeat
Rank Player Club Goals
1. Wayne Rooney United 11
2. Joe Hayes City 10
= Francis Lee City 10
4. Sergio Aguero City 9
= Bobby Charlton United 9
= Erling Haaland City 9
7. Colin Bell City 8
= Eric Cantona United 8
= Brian Kidd United (5)/City (3) 8
= Joe Spence United 8
11. Paul Scholes United 7
= Dennis Violet United 7
= Phil Foden City 7
14. Marcus Rashford United 6
After a cluster of four players on eight derby goals, including Eric Cantona and Colin Bell — each a transformative presence for their clubs during their respective eras in the 1990s and 1960s — United heroes Paul Scholes and Dennis Violet have seven each.
MORE:Bobby Charlton and Francis Lee: The men who made the Manchester derby's golden era