Manchester United's all-time Champions League top scorers

Manchester United have plenty of fond memories of European campaigns of the past, but the club's recent record in the Champions League has left a lot to be desired.

Since its change in format, Man Utd have won Europe's premier competition twice, while also winning the old European Cup in 1968. However, as their plight post-Alex Ferguson continues, the Red Devils are no longer competing in the latter stages of the Champions League, once again suffering an early exit in the 2023/24 season.

Regardless, Man Utd have enough credit in the bank to be considered European royalty, and they have boasted some of the competition's most clinical finishers in the past.

Here's a list of United's 30 top scorers in the Champions League.

30. Diego Forlan - 3 goals

This one's just a bid sad, because as we now know, Forlan was a bloody brilliant footballer - it just didn't work out at United. He scored his long awaited first goal from the penalty spot against Maccabi Haifa.

29. Michael Carrick - 4 goals

Perhaps one of Europe's most underrated midfielders of his generation, Carrick is a genuine club legend at United. He won the Champions League in 2008 and played 464 times in all competitions.

28. Denis Irwin - 4 goals

Irwin set the pace for the modern day full back. The Irishman wasn't afraid to get forward and show off his attacking capabilities, and could be relied upon to put away a penalty or free-kick when needed.

27. Nani - 4 goals

One incredible game would forever be followed up by several less than stellar performances, which was always the problem with Nani. However, on his day he was an absolute joy to watch.

26. Juan Sebastian Veron - 4 goals

United broke the British transfer record to bring Veron to the club in 2002, but it didn't pay off and he left just two years later. Some of his best performances did come in the Champions League, though.

25. Louis Saha - 4 goals

Injuries ravaged what could've been a seriously successful career at Old Trafford for Saha. Four Champions League goals doesn't do him justice, yet he he still got his hands on a deserved winner's medal in 2008.

24. Danny Welbeck - 4 goals

'Dat Guy Welbz' actually looked like a decent striker option for United as a young academy graduate, but that all fell apart when he tried to chip Manuel Neuer in 2014. Respect the effort, not the execution.

23. Michael Owen - 4 goals

Decent strike rate, incredible player in his prime, but it still feels properly weird to think that Michael Owen played for Manchester United. Three of his four Champions League goals came as a hat-trick against Wolfsburg.

22. Dimitar Berbatov - 5 goals

One of the most technically sound and aesthetically pleasing players in his prime, Berbatov was an incredible forward for United - even if he could also be infuriating to watch at times.

21. Eric Cantona - 5 goals

Five goals in the Champions League doesn't tell the story of just how important Cantona was for United during the early and mid-1990s. Erratic, but supremely talented, and fans wouldn't have had it any other way.

20. Rasmus Hojlund - 5 goals

United may have been embarrassingly dumped out of the 2023/24 Champions League group stage, but £72m summer signing Hojlund still managed five goals in six appearances.

19. Antonio Valencia - 6 goals

Before his days as a right back, Valencia signed for United as a tricky winger and looked a constant threat. A broken ankle in the Champions League in September 2010 was a disappointing setback.

18. Anthony Martial - 6 goals

United have struggled in Europe in recent years, with Martial unable to influence things too much for the Red Devils. The Frenchman's injury history has hindered his development.

17. Carlos Tevez - 6 goals

Tevez remains a sore spot for United fans, even more so because of how ridiculously good he was. The Argentine had a stellar two seasons in red, before controversially moving to Manchester City in 2009.

16. Bruno Fernandes - 6 goals

Fernandes scored four goals in the 2020/21 group stage alone, his first ever time playing in the Champions League after a relatively modest start to his career in Italy and Portugal.

15. Javier Hernandez - 7 goals

Chicharito will forever be a fan favourite at United. The Mexican was the ultimate super sub and could find a goal from nowhere. Never the number one pick, but always a safe pair of hands.

14. Romelu Lukaku - 7 goals

A career resurgence at Inter left fans second guessing United's decision to sell Lukaku, but it was for the best. He didn't fit the mould under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, even though he netted seven goals in the Champions League for the club.

13. Robin van Persie - 7 goals

Van Persie carried United to their 20th league title in 2012/13 and also holds a pretty impressive record in Europe for the Red Devils for his number of appearances. If only he had moved to Old Trafford a few seasons earlier...

12. Teddy Sheringham - 9 goals

Sheringham bagged nine Champions League goals for United during his time with club, one being arguably the most important Champions League goal in the club's history. He scored the equaliser in the 1999 final against Bayern Munich before assisting the winner. Iconic.

11. Dwight Yorke - 11 goals

Yorke was the final piece of the 'treble' jigsaw when he arrived at United from Aston Villa for a club record transfer fee in 1998. He scored crucial goals in the Champions League throughout that first season.

10. Marcus Rashford - 12 goals

Rashford is the highest scoring player in the Champions League that is still donning a Man Utd shirt and the winger has plenty of time to add to his impressive tally.

9. David Beckham - 14 goals

A right foot doesn't come better than Beckham's. Him now being a club owner and massive celebrity makes it easy to forget that he was once a world class player in his own right. United reaped the benefits.

8. Roy Keane - 14 goals

Keane scored arguably the most important goal of his entire career in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Juventus in 1999. United were trailing 3-1 on aggregate, but he sparked the memorable comeback.

7. Andrew Cole - 18 goals

Cole was a complete striker and more than just a goal scorer. His vision and reading of the game were incredible, while at one stage he was United's all-time leading scorer in European competition.

6. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - 19 goals

The single most famous goal in Manchester United history, to win the single most famous match in Manchester United history? Probably. Solskjaer netted 18 other goals in Europe for the Red Devils, but none more significant than his winning strike in 1999 against Bayern Munich in the final.

5. Cristiano Ronaldo - 22 goals

Most of his record breaking Champions League goal tally came for Real Madrid, but Ronaldo announced himself on the European stage during his days at Old Trafford. Would you believe he didn't score in Europe until 2007?

4. Paul Scholes - 24 goals

Contrary to what modern day social media users might think, Scholes was an incredible footballer. An energetic and accurate midfielder with an eye for goal, he remains among United's top Champions League scorers.

3. Ryan Giggs - 28 goals

Giggs is one of the most decorated footballers of all time and won two Champions League titles with United as a part of two obscenely talented squads. They were nine years apart, a testament to his longevity.

2. Wayne Rooney - 30 goals

United's all-time leading goalscorer opened his account for the Red Devils with a hat-trick in the Champions League in 2004 against Fenerbahce. The rest is history.

1. Ruud van Nistelrooy - 35 goals

Before there was Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland setting the Champions League alight with incredible goal numbers, there was Van Nistelrooy. He got 14 in 2002/03 alone.

READ THE LATEST MAN UTD NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP