Set to hit 250 games – how does Fernandes’ goalscoring compare to Man Utd’s legends?

​

82 goals and counting 

©TM/IMAGO

On Sunday Manchester United beat Leicester City 3-0 in a rather inconsequential game in the Premier League. Although the visitors fought tooth and nail to win at least a point at Old Trafford, the home side effectively tried to kill time under interim head coach Ruud Van Nistelrooy, as they await the arrival of new club manager Rúben Amorim. However, there was one Man Utd star hell bent on making Sunday’s clash a special occasion. 

Sunday’s clash was the 250th time that Bruno Fernandes has pulled on the Man Utd shirt and represented the English giants in all competitions. Since joining the club in January 2020 for €65 million, Fernandes has been one of the rare sources of consistency in what has undoubtedly been a troubling period for the club. Despite their troubles and numerous managerial changes, Fernandes has never shied away from scoring goals for Man Utd and Sunday was no different. And when we compare his record to every outfield Man Utd player that reached 250 games for the club, we can see just how impressive the Portuguese No.10 has been over the course of the last four and a half years. 

As we can see from the graphic above, which offers a fascinating look into some of the most prolific goal scorers in Manchester United’s storied history, Fernandes is already working his way up the rankings. Leading the list is Denis Law, who netted an impressive 170 goals during his time with the club. Known as “The King,” Law was renowned for his incredible finishing, both in open play and from set pieces. His scoring record made him one of the most feared forwards of his time and cemented his status as a Manchester United legend. Following closely is Dennis Viollet with 160 goals, who was known for his remarkable goal-scoring consistency during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Viollet’s 32 league goals in the 1959-60 season remain a record for United in a single season. 

In third place, David Herd scored 142 goals for United, making his mark in the club’s successful period during the 1960s. Herd’s goals were instrumental in helping United secure several league titles and an FA Cup under Sir Matt Busby. Sir Bobby Charlton scored 117 goals and was one of the most versatile players in Manchester United’s history. While he spent a significant part of his career as a midfielder, his eye for goal and powerful shot allowed him to make this list and puts him fourth. Andy Cole, who is considered to be one of the Premier League’s most under-rated goal scorers comes in fifth place with 114 goals from his first 250 appearances. 

Following on from the top grouping of club legends are more recent players, including Wayne Rooney in sixth, Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Cristiano Ronaldo are level in seventh place with 99 goals each, with Marcus Rashford joining the illustrious company with an impressive 83 goals from his first 250 games. Fernandes has now managed to match the English forward’s record for 83 goals in 250 games. 

What won’t be lost on eagle-eyed fans of the club is that Fernandes looks set to join this list as one of the few traditional midfielders on it. While legends like Charlton and Rooney did drop back into midfield roles later in their career, Fernandes is most likely the only player to reach his level of goalscoring for Man Utd from the middle of the pitch. Which not only showcases his immense talent but also underlines just how important he has been to the Old Trafford club as a consistent and reliable talisman in the Premier League and other competitions.