Marcus Rashford still has the opportunity to become England’s most-capped player ever, it’s down to him

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Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has a huge opportunity for England in the years ahead.

Club legend Wayne Rooney reached 120 international caps for England, surpassing the feat set by David Beckham (115).

Both players fell short of all-time Three Lions’ cap holder Peter Shilton (125). But this record looks set to fall to Harry Kane, who reached his 120th cap against Norway at the 2026 World Cup.

But did you know, Marcus Rashford is not too far behind…

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Marcus Rashford’s England career

Marcus Rashford made his England debut in the same year as his stunning Manchester United breakthrough in 2016. He went to the European Championships that same summer.

• 76: Current England caps for Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford has already earned an impressive 76 caps for England, a figure that could potentially still reach 78 at the 2026 World Cup.

Rashford’s figure would be even higher if he was (a) an automatic starter and (b) had been selected for Euro 2024.

Despite that setback, Rashford has reclaimed his role in the England squad and is still adding to his cap collection.

Still only 28, Rashford might be targeting two more World Cup cycles; in 2030 and even in 2034.

If he maintains his current rate of seven or eight caps a year, Rashford could add another 55 to 65 caps, taking him into the 130-140 range.

This is a figure that would make him England’s record cap holder – although it is a record that Harry Kane looks set to break first.

Kane could stretch the record out to a figure that is just unclimbable for Rashford, or anybody else.

Still four years younger than Kane, it’s still within Rashford’s grasp too. It’s down to him how important he can become to his country in the years ahead.

Rashford entering new chapter in his career

Marcus Rashford is at a career crossroads. After two loan spells at Aston Villa and Barcelona, he is now low on suitors.

There is a strong chance that Rashford resumes his career at Manchester United for the 2026/27 season.

But there are lingering questions. Does he want to be here? Do United actually want him? At present the situation resembles a short-term fix.

Rashford needs to figure out what the rest of his career looks like at club level over the next eight years, when he is 36.

Can he earn the right to stay at United with a contract extension? Does he want that? Can he find a settled destination elsewhere, or will he end up hopping from club to club?

If Rashford can find some consistency at club level, then international greatness may beckon, by adding his time among the all-time record cap holders for England.

But if it all goes wrong, Rashford may struggle to even reach the 100 cap mark. And that would be a terrible shame after just a strong initial decade to begin his career.