Photo by Mark Leech/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Mark Leech/Offside via Getty Images
Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney lead the way as Manchester United’s top goalscorers in the Champions League.
With Manchester United’s 2026/27 Champions League about to get underway, we’ve looked at the biggest European wins in the club’s history.
Now, it’s time to look at the players who are in the top 10 list for Champions League goals scored in a United shirt.
None of the top 10 is in the current United squad, although Marcus Rashford is knocking on the door with 12 goals in 33 appearances.
Wayne Rooney celebrates goal against Rangers
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Top 10 most lethal Champions League scorers in Man Utd’s history
United first entered the European Cup during the 1956/57 season and recorded their biggest win in the competition in their second match, beating Anderlecht 10-0 at Old Trafford.
Dennis Viollet, who scored four goals against Anderlecht that night, narrowly misses out on United’s top 10 list, boasting an incredible tally of 13 goals in 12 matches.
However, the goals counted for in this list include qualifying matches, but it wouldn’t have made much difference if it didn’t.
Manchester United’s top 10 scorers in the Champions League:
Ruud van Nistelrooy: 38 goals in 47 appearances
Wayne Rooney: 34 goals in 88 appearances
Ryan Giggs: 29 goals in 151 appearances
Paul Scholes: 25 goals in 130 appearances
Cristiano Ronaldo: 22 goals in 62 appearances
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: 20 goals in 81 appearances
Andy Cole: 19 goals in 49 appearances
David Beckham: 15 goals in 81 appearances
Denis Law: 14 goals in 18 appearances
Roy Keane: 14 goals in 80 appearances
Two of those listed – Van Nistelrooy and Law – join Viollet in an exclusive list of players who scored four goals in a single Champions League match for United.
In the second leg of the European Cup preliminary round, Law scored four goals against Irish opposition Waterford after winning Europe’s most prestigious tournament for the first time the season prior.
Rashford is just two goals away from matching the goal records of Keane and Law.
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Who has made the most appearances for Man Utd in the Champions League?
Giggs holds the record for most appearances (151) for United in the Champions League.
United’s head coach Michael Carrick ranks 10th in the club’s history for most appearances (72) in the competition, so he will hope to use that experience to benefit his players.
Manchester United top 5 list for appearances in the Champions League: