Who is the best Manchester United player ever? This is an argument had by Man United fans over and over. It’s no easy task trying to pinpoint the most talented player the club has ever had, a player who’s defied all the odds, scored the most goals and had the best all-round performance.
As teams and managers come and go, assessments of which stars from the most recent 140 years of the club’s presence deserve to be positioned among the best might have changed, yet every fan has their top choices.
We’ve assembled who we believe are the best 10 players in Manchester United’s famous history. It’s a difficult task, one that every Red will have their personal view on, and we’re certain that while you’ll concur with some, there’ll be others that you won’t agree with!
Keep reading down below to see our list.
10. Roy Keane (1993-2005)
The archetypal box-to-box midfielder Keane was renowned for his fiery temperament and conflicts with Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira. Keane’s performance in the 1999 Champions League semi-final against Juventus has gone down as one of the most extraordinary individual showcases ever. Of course, there have been more skilled midfielders, however very few are more effective than Keane.
What Keane won:
● Premier League – 1993-1994, 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2002-2003
● Champions League – 1999
● FA Cup – 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
● Community Shield – 1993, 1996, 1997, 2003
● Intercontinental Cup – 1999
9. Cristiano Ronaldo (2003-2009; 2021- current)
Ronaldo first joined Man United as a promising 18-year-old and left as the most expensive player ever in 2009. His 42 goals in the 2007-2008 season took Man United to their second consecutive Premier League title and their third European Cup. Now that Ronaldo has “come home” to Man United, only time will tell what more he’ll achieve for himself and the club. He also won the Ballon d’Or as the world’s best player for 2008 while with United, which is an amazing achievement in itself.
What Ronaldo won:
● Premier League – 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009
● Champions League – 2008
● FA Cup – 2004
● League Cup – 2006, 2009
● Community Shield – 2007
● Club World Cup – 2008
8. Wayne Rooney (2004-2017)
Rooney began his career by scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist in his debut against Fenerbahce when he was just 18-years old. Rooney went on not just to win each honour with Man United but to additionally overshadow Sir Bobby Charlton’s long-standing goalscoring record, with a count of an impressive 253 goals for the club.
What Rooney won:
● Premier League – 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2010-2011, 2012-2013
● FA Cup – 2015-16
● Champions League – 2008
● Europa League – 2016-2017
● League Cup – 2006, 2010, 2017
● Community Shield – 2007, 2010, 2011, 2016
● Club World Cup – 2008
7. Eric Cantona (1992-1997)
King Eric was snatched from Leeds in 1992. He steered Man United to four Premier League titles in only five years and managed to inspire a generation of collar-popping kids. Although Cantona was notorious for that occurrence at Selhurst Park, he was celebrated for that chip against Sunderland in 1996, prepared to do anything when the ball was at his feet.
What Cantona won:
● Premier League – 1992-1993, 1993-1994, 1995-1996, 1996-1997
● FA Cup – 1994, 1996
● Charity Shield – 1993, 1994, 1996
6. Duncan Edwards (1953-1958)
A casualty of the disastrous Munich air disaster at only 21 years old, Edwards effectively made over 150 appearances in the red of Man United. Considered one of the Busby Babes and portrayed by his manager as ‘the absolute complete player in Britain, perhaps the world’, most regularly seen at left half-back, Edwards could really have played in any position.
What Edwards won:
● First Division – 1955-1956, 1956-1957
5. Paul Scholes (1991-2013)
Scholes was so great that Fergie retrieved him once again from retirement when attempting to stop City’s campaign for the 2011-2012 title. The calmest individual in the changing room, it’s known that illuminators of the game like Pep Guardiola, Xavi, and Zinedine Zidane sing the praises of Paul Scholes.
Amazingly skilled, his ability to read the game and vision has barely been equalled, and on top of that, he was a sensational ball striker.
What Scholes won:
● Premier League – 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2002-2003, 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2010-2011
● Champions League – 1999, 2008
● FA Cup – 1996, 1999, 2004
● League Cup – 2009, 2010
● Community Shield – 1996, 1997, 2003, 2008, 2010
● Club World Cup – 2008
● Intercontinental Cup – 1999
4. Denis Law (1962-1973)
Law is Man United’s second unsurpassed goal scorer with 237 goals, and he still holds the record for the most competitive goals in a season. Law, referred to as “The King”, formed a third of the Holy Trinity with Charlton and Best and would not celebrate after scoring for City against Man United in 1974, a goal he felt relegated the Reds. His loyalty for Man United clearly runs deep.
What Law won:
● First Division – 1964-1965, 1966-1967
● European Cup – 1968
3. Bobby Charlton (1956-1973)
Only Wayne Rooney has scored more than Sir Bobby’s 249 Man United goals, even though Ryan Giggs has had more than Charlton’s 758 appearances. As captain of the 1968 European Cup’s winning side, Charlton won the UEFA Ballon d’Or in 1966 and is still considered as one of the best goal-scoring midfielders ever.
What Charlton won:
● First Division – 1956-1957, 1964-1965, 1966-1967
● European Cup – 1968
● FA Cup – 1963
● Charity Shield – 1956, 1957, 1965, 1967
2. George Best (1963-1974)
The man that every Man United number seven is judged against, a genuine phenomenon of the game that unfortunately never had the chance to play on the greatest stage of a World Cup. That said, he is arguably most remembered for when he scored in Man United’s extra-time win against Benfica in the 1968 European Cup final, and he capped the year by winning the coveted UEFA’s Ballon d’Or.
What Best won:
● First Division – 1964-1965, 1966-1967
● European Cup – 1968
● Community Shield – 1965, 1967
1. Ryan Giggs (1987-2014)
The sole player to have played and scored in each Premier League campaign, the Welshman still holds the record for the most league victor’s awards.
Giggs is best remembered as a flying winger tearing through the Arsenal defence in that 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay, after that effectively changing his game to stretch his career. He became the interim manager for Man United in 2014 and now manages Wales as a true legend.
What Giggs won:
● Premier League – 1992-1993, 1993-1994, 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2002-2003, 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2010-2011. 2012-2013
● Champions League – 1999, 2008
● FA Cup – 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
● League Cup – 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010
● Community Shield – 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013
● Club World Cup – 2008
● Intercontinental Cup – 1999
● UEFA Super Cup – 1991
These are just some of the greatest players to have pulled on a shirt for Man United, but there are many more. Who is your best Manchester United player of all time?
