Marcus Rashford’s rollercoaster career: A dream start with two goals in Man United victory, campaigning against child poverty, a 12-hour tequila bender and social media abuse

Marcus Rashford delivered a worrying message to fans on social media, revealing that he has endured ‘months of abuse’, with Man United supporters pinning some of the blame on YouTuber Mark Goldbridge.

The 26-year-old forward has had a difficult season on the pitch, failing to match the achievements of his 30-goal haul during the 2022-23 campaign, scoring eight times so far across all competitions this season. 

Goldbridge runs a fan channel called The United Stand, which has 1.85million subscribers on YouTube. He has recently released several videos in which he criticises the England star, notably once referring to Rashford as ‘about as useful as a wheelie bin with no wheels.’

In the early hours of Friday morning, Rashford responded to a post on X (formerly Twitter) that said the criticism he has received was unfair. The post read: ‘The way Marcus Rashford is being treated is absolutely disgusting. It’s cruel. It’s abuse.’ The United forward wrote back claiming that he was tired of the abuse he has received in recent months. ‘I appreciate your support! It is abuse and has been for months. Enough is enough,’ Rashford said. 

Here, we look at his rollercoaster career.

In the past, the Man United forward has run several campaigns to end childhood poverty  

Rashford was made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2021

February 2016: Bursts on to the scene at 18 with two goals on his first Manchester United start in a Europa League victory over Midtjylland, then two more on his Premier League debut against Arsenal three days later. Wins the club’s Young Player of the Year award and signs a new deal to stay until 2020. 

March 2020: During the Covid lockdown, he teams up with charities to deliver free school meals and is later credited with persuading the Government to extend free school meals to children during school holidays. Sets up a Child Food Poverty Task Force and is awarded the MBE later that year, also appearing on the cover of Vogue in recognition of his role as a political activist and campaigner.

July 2023: The most productive season of his career as he scores 30 goals in all competitions and is voted Player of the Season. Signs a new contract at United running to 2028, believed to be worth £315,000-a-week.

October 2023: Causes controversy by going out partying for his birthday on the night of a 3-0 derby defeat by arch-rivals Manchester City. Manager Erik ten Hag later says his conduct was ‘unacceptable’.

By Christmas he has scored just two Premier League goals, in stark contrast to his brilliant form of the previous season.

January 2024: Misses United training and is left out of the squad for the FA Cup clash at Newport through ‘illness’, though it emerges he was on a night out in Belfast the previous week on a reported ‘12-hour tequila bender’. Former United skipper Gary Neville is among those critical of the striker, saying he needs to think about his ‘choices and timing’.

Rashford has struggled to match his 30-goal haul from last season, scoring eight times across all competitions in 2023-24

Rashford has faced criticism after he was spotted going into a Belfast nightclub late at night last month despite having a training session at United the following morning 

February 2024: Admits to making mistakes without directly addressing the Belfast controversy, but says any suggestion that he is not committed to United’s cause is way off the mark: ‘It’s like someone questioning my entire identity and everything I stand for as a man.’

FRIDAY: Concerns over his social media presence grow as, in a post on X at almost 1am, he responds to a United supporter who said: ‘The way Marcus Rashford is being treated is absolutely disgusting’ by replying: ‘I appreciate your support! It is abuse and has been for months. Enough is enough.’