Manchester United's Top 10 Goals - American Red Devils

1. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer vs. Bayern Munich – Champions Leauge Final 1999

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wins the 1999 Champions League Final in stoppage time

On May 26th, Manchester United played Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League Final at the Camp Nou in Barcelona. Manchester United was trailing 1-0 when Solskjær was brought on for Andy Cole in the 81st minute. Teddy Sheringham scored the tieing goal (1-1) 36 seconds into stoppage time, and shortly after the following kick-off, United forced a corner. David Beckham took the corner kick, which was flicked on by Teddy Sheringham, and eventually found Solskjær who kicked the ball into the roof of the net. The exact time of the goal was timed at 90+2:17′. Solskjær’s goal won the Champions League final for Manchester United (2-1) and helped the Red Devils secure the famous 1999 treble (the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League), the first side in English football to achieve such a feat.

2. Paul Scholes vs. Barcelona – Champions League Semi-Final 2nd Leg 2008

On the 23rd of April 2008, Scholes made his 100th Champions League appearance in a 0–0 draw to F.C. Barcelona in the semi-final first leg at the Camp Nou. Manchester United would face a young Messi at Old Trafford in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final. 14 minutes into the match, Paul Scholes rifled in a spectacular 25-yard effort to give the Red Devils a 1-0 lead. Following the goal, Barcelona would dominate possession for long periods, with Deco and Thierry Henry wasting late chances. United was able to hold onto the clean sheet and go on to the 2008 Champions League final where they would beat Chelsea on penalties winning their third European Cup.

Paul Scholes Scores Goals. End of.

3. Rooney Bicycle Kick vs. Manchester City – 2011 Manchester Derby

Manchester United was in first place in the league heading into the Manchester Derby on February 12th. Tied 1-1 Rooney scored an overhead bicycle kick from a Nani cross in the 78th minute winning the match 2–1 over Manchester Shitty. After the match, Rooney said it was the best goal of his career and Sir Alex Ferguson described the strike as the best goal he had ever witnessed at Old Trafford. Manchester United would go on to win their 19th English Premier League title 3 months later with 81 points, beating Manchester City and Chelsea who both tied with 71 points.

In 2011, Rooney came in fifth in the vote for the 2011 FIFA Ballon d’Or and he was named to the FIFA FIFPro World XI for 2011. The bicycle kick won Goal of the Season award by BBC’s Match of the Day and won the Premier Leauge 20 Seasons Anniversary Best Goal Award.

I’ve never seen a goal like that in my life
Sir Alex

4. Ryan Giggs vs. Arsenal – FA Cup Semi-Final Replay 1999

Ryan Giggs Scores Against Arsenal in the 1999 FA Cup Semi Final

After Arsenal and Manchester United drew their first meeting 0-0 in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final a replay was set for April 14th, 1999. The semi-final replay match was tied 1-1 with goals by Dennis Bergkamp and David Beckham. A Roy Keane yellow saw United go down to 10 men and a rash challenge by Phil Neville gave Bergkamp a penalty. Peter Schmeichel guessed right and dove to his left to deny Arsenal’s talisman and force extra time. In extra time, the welsh wizard Ryan Giggs ran down the right-wing, beat the entire Arsenal defense and scored with a powerful strike to put the Red Devils into the FA Cup final. Manchester United would go on to beat Newcastle in the FA Cup final and seal the famous Treble and with it one of the greatest seasons in the club’s history.

5. Ronaldo vs. Porto – Champions League Quarterfinal 2009

After drawing F.C. Porto at home 2-2 in the first leg of the 2009 Champions League Quarterfinals Manchester United traveled to Portugal for the second leg down on away goals. Christiano Ronaldo hit a 39.6-yard strike clocking in at a blistering 64 mph in the 6th minute of the match to give Manchester United a 1-0 lead, sending them through to the Semi-Finals (3-2 on aggregate). Manchester United would beat Arsenal in the Semi-Finals (4-1 on aggregate) and play Barcelona in the Finals in Rome losing 0-2.

6. Ruud van Nistelrooy vs. Fulham – English Premier Leauge 2003

On March 22nd, 2003 Ruud van Nistelrooy lead Manchester United to a 3-0 victory at Old Trafford completing one of his 5 Engish Premier League hattricks for the Red Devils. In the 68th minute, Ruud scored a goal for the ages, picking up the ball at the halfway line he took on Fulhams entire backline, finally slotting the ball in the lower right-hand corner for a 2-0 lead. Ruud van Nistelrooy finished the 2002/2003 season as the top Premier League scorer with 25 goals in 34 games, scoring a goal on the final day against Everton earning him the Golden Boot ahead of Arsenal’s Thierry Henry.

With Ruud van Nistelrooy at the helm, Manchester United would win their 15th title on 83 points becoming the first team in the history of the English Premier League to win the title 3 years running.

They can close the betting on goal of the month for March, maybe even the season!

7. Beckham vs. AFC Wimbledon – English Premier League 1996

On August 17, 1996, leading 2-0 at the time and approaching the end of the game at Selhurst Park, Beckham collected a pass from fellow midfielder Brian McClair. Beckham quickly looked up and attempted an outrageous effort on goal from just inside his own half. The cheeky strike found the net from 50 yards out and launched David Beckham onto the world stage. Manchester United would go on to win the Premier League in 1996/1997 and Beckham would score 8 goals featuring in 36 matches on the right-wing.

8. George Best v. Benfica 1968 European Cup Final

George Best celebrates scoring in extra time against Benfica in the 1968 European Cup Final

There might not be a more significant goal than George Best’s winner in extra time against Benfica in the 1968 European Cup. In classic Best fashion, he sent the keeper the wrong way on a one v one and cooly slotted the ball into the net at Wembley Stadium. Manchester United would go on to score 2 more goals in extra time (by Charlton & Kidd) to win 4-1 and take home their first European Cup.

In total, Best scored 32 goals during the 1967/68 campaign, including 28 in the league. He was rewarded for that form and his role in United’s European Cup win with the 1968 Ballon d’Or, following in the footsteps of Charlton and Law, both of whom had won in the decade.

The win also marked the culmination of Manchester United’s 10 years of rebuilding after the Munich air disaster; captain Bobby Charlton and Bill Foulkes were the only survivors of the crash to play in the 1968 final.

9. Cantona vs. Sunderland – English Premier League 1996

Manchester United was already up 4-0 against a poor Black Cats side heading for Premier League relegation when Eric Cantona mustered a moment of magic. Cantona cut through Sunderland’s defense and netted a chip finish off the post only fit for a king. In the 1996/1997 season, United clinched the Premier League title with 75 points – placing them seven points ahead of the three teams below them; Newcastle United, Arsenal and Liverpool. Eric Cantona scored 15 goals in 50 appearances for the Red Devils during the title-winning campaign

“I never celebrate a goal in the same way, because every goal is different. The energy is different, everything is different,”
“But maybe I did this celebration – I don’t know – it’s nice to take the energy of all the fans, you know?… I just stand there. Look at me.”
Eric Cantona

10. Sir Bobby Charlton vs Benfica 1968 European Cup Final

29th May 1968, European Cup Final at Wembley, Manchester United 4, v Benfica 1, (after extra time), Manchester United captain Bobby Charlton lifts the European Cup, watched by Alex Stepney and Bill Foulkes, after the presentation by FIFA, President Gustav Wiederkehr, left (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)

Sir Bobby Charlton opened the scoring for Manchester United with a spectacular header in the 1968 European Cup final. He would go on to score a brace in Manchester Uniteds 4-1 win bringing home the Red Devils first of three European Cups.

Sir Bobby Charlton is regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time, as the original “Sir”, he was an integral member of the England team that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the year he also won the Ballon d’Or. He is one of 10 World Cup winners to play for Manchester United and is one of eight players to have won the Ballon d’Or. He scored 249 goals for Manchester United a record that stood for 44 years until Wayne Rooney broke the total against stoke city in 2017.