Manchester United’s players will be looking to create history at World Cup 2026. There is a track record of the club’s stars enjoying success at the tournament.
Over the course of World Cup history, five Manchester United players have won the trophy while under contract to the Red Devils.
There are 13 Manchester United players heading to USA 2026, and we are asking readers on TalkingPoints who will be the club’s top achiever at the upcoming tournament?
With this question in mind, we have decided to look back through World Cup history to find out Manchester United’s top achiever at each tournament…
Which Manchester United player will have the most successful World Cup 2026?
Who are you most excited to watch?
2022
- Lisandro Martinez: World Cup champion with Argentina
- Raphael Varane was a runner-up with France.
orManchester United were guaranteed a World Cup winner in 2022 ahead of the Final when Lisandro Martinez’s Argentina took on Raphael Varane’s France.
Martinez did not actually play a single minute in an epic 3-3 final which Argentina won on penalties. He earned his World Cup medal by playing five games in the lead-up to the final.
Varane played 113 minutes of the final, and this was his final international game before he retired.
2018
- Paul Pogba: World Cup champion with France
Paul Pogba was the top Manchester United representative in 2018, becoming only the fourth ever player at the time to win the World Cup while representing the Red Devils.
Pogba scored in the Final as France defeated Croatia 4-2. Varane also won the World Cup – but he was playing for Real Madrid at the time.
Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Phil Jones were part of an England squad that finished fourth, defeated by Croatia in the semi-finals in extra-time.
2014
- Robin van Persie: Semi-finals with the Netherlands
Robin van Persie‘s Netherlands were eliminated on penalties in the semi-final with Argentina following a 0-0 draw.
It was Louis van Gaal’s final match before he took over at Manchester United. Van Persie was substituted in the 96th minute before penalties.
Future Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger won the World Cup with Germany. He joined United in 2015.
Former United academy goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler was among Germany’s back-up goalkeepers. He was playing for Hannover at the time.
Angel di Maria, Marcos Rojo and Sergio Romero were in the Argentina squad that lost the final.
Manchester United signed Di Maria and Rojo in summer 2014 after the tournament and made a move for Romero in 2015.
2010
- Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez: Second round with England and Mexico
A disappointing World Cup for the Manchester United representatives involved, although Javier Hernandez’s performances showed promise.
United had agreed to sign ‘Chicharito’ before the tournament. He went as far as Wayne Rooney‘s England, who had a dismal showing in South Africa.
Two future United players were more productive. Juan Mata was part of the Spain squad that won the World Cup, defeating Netherlands in the final, with Robin van Persie part of their side.
Former United forward Diego Forlan won the Golden Ball as Uruguay made the semi-finals, alongside future Red Devils striker Edinson Cavani.
2006
- Louis Saha and Mikael Silvestre: World Cup Final with France
Two Manchester United players missed out on World Cup glory with a penalty shootout defeat to Italy, a game that was famous for Zinedine Zidane’s headbutt.
Louis Saha and Mikael Silvestre were both part of the France squad in 2006. Saha played three games including a substitute showing in the semi-final. Silvestre played once in the group stages.
Former United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez also reached the final with France.
Cristiano Ronaldo got as far as the semi-final with Portugal in his first World Cup – after overcoming England in the quarters, a match that became notable for his wink at Wayne Rooney.
2002
- David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Wes Brown: Quarter-finals with England
Four Manchester United players were part of the England squad that fell short in the quarter-finals in 2002. Future Red Devils forward Michael Owen scored the opener in a 2-1 loss.
Kleberson won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil. He was not a Manchester United player at the time, joining the Red Devils a year later in 2003.
Park Ji-Sung reached the semi-finals with South Korea on home turf, although he was playing for Japanese side Kyoto Purple Sanga at the time, joining PSV the next summer, and later Manchester United.
1998
- Peter Schmeichel: Quarter-finals with Denmark
Star goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel was the most successful Manchester United representative at World Cup 1998.
Future Manchester United duo Fabien Barthez and Laurent Blanc played a key role in France winning the World Cup for the first time.
Another would-be Man Utd signing, Edwin van der Sar reached the semi-finals with the Netherlands before their elimination by Brazil.
1994
- Roy Keane, Denis Irwin: Last 16 with Republic of Ireland
An entertaining World Cup was a weak one for Manchester United involvement, with Ireland duo Roy Keane and Denis Irwin the top achievers.
Jesper Blomqvist was part of the Sweden squad that finished in third place at USA ’94. He signed for United four years later in 1998.
1990
- Bryan Robson, Neil Webb: Fourth place with England
England’s heroes were defeated on penalties by West Germany in the semi-finals at Italia ’90.
Manchester United icon Bryan Robson was injured in the group stages. Neil Webb played in the third-place playoff defeat to hosts Italy.
Future Double-winner Paul Parker was also part of the England team. He was playing for QPR at the time.
1986
- Bryan Robson, Gary Bailey: Quarter-finals with England
Bryan Robson was part of the England side that were eliminated by Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal at World Cup 1986.
South African-born goalkeeper Gary Bailey was also part of the England squad, as a back-up to Peter Shilton.
1982
- Steve Coppell, Bryan Robson, Ray Wilkins: Eliminated at second group stage with England
A mixed tournament for England at World Cup 1982 saw the team eliminated despite going unbeaten and conceding only two goals in six games.
Needing to beat Spain by two clear goals to progress past the second group stage, the Three Lions could only manage a 0-0 draw.
There were three Manchester United players involved, with Robson playing in the first of his three World Cups
1978
- Martin Buchan, Gordon McQueen, Joe Jordan, Lou Macari: Group stages with Scotland
There were four Manchester United players representing Scotland at World Cup 1978. Despite a thrilling 3-2 win over the Netherlands in the final group game – they were eliminated on goal difference.
Jordan, Buchan and Macari all played key roles for Scotland during the tournament, but McQueen was sidelined with an injury.
1974
- Jim Holton, Martin Buchan, Willie Morgan: Group stages with Scotland
Scotland beat Zaire and drew with Brazil and Yugoslavia in a credible group stage performance. But it was not enough to reach the knockout rounds.
They featured a trio of Manchester United stars, with Holton and Morgan starting all three games and Buchan playing in two.
1970
- Bobby Charlton, Nobby Stiles, Alex Stepney: Quarter-finals with England
Three Manchester United players were part of the England squad that suffered a surprise defeat to West Germany in 1970.
With England leading 2-1, a controversial decision was made to substitute Bobby Charlton. England succumbed to a 3-2 loss.
Stiles did not play a single minute at the tournament, another potential error, while Alex Stepney went as a third choice goalkeeper.
1966
- Bobby Charlton, Nobby Stiles, John Connelly: Champions with England
1966 was a far happier experience for England, with the nation winning the World Cup for a first, and only, time.
There was heavy Manchester United involvement, with three Red Devils players leaving the tournament with medals.
Bobby Charlton and Nobby Stiles both started England’s 4-2 final win over West Germany, with John Connelly an unused substitute.
Between them, they make up three of Manchester United’s five World Cup winners along with Paul Pogba and Lisandro Martinez.
1962
- Bobby Charlton: Quarter-finals with England
Bobby Charlton played in his first World Cup in 1962, helping the Three Lions to the quarter-finals.
The Manchester United star started four games at the tournament in Chile, with England defeated 3-1 by Pele and Garrincha’s Brazil.
1958
- Harry Gregg, Colin Webster: Quarter-finals with Northern Ireland and Wales
World Cup 1958 saw Harry Gregg reach the quarter-finals with Northern Ireland and Colin Webster for Wales.
Despite elimination by France, Gregg’s performances at the tournament were so impressive that he was voted as the best goalkeeper, ahead of Lev Yashin.
Colin Webster, one of the early Busby Babes, helped Wales reach the quarter-finals in Sweden too, before a 2-1 defeat to Brazil, powered by a teenage Pele.
England’s involvement in 1958 was overshadowed by the Munich Disaster. The deaths of Tommy Taylor, Duncan Edwards and Roger Byrne took three starters away from the team.
Bobby Charlton was named in the squad but he was not selected to play a single game, with no substitutions yet permitted.
Feel free to leave your tributes to the Busby Babes and the lives lost in the 1958 Munich Air Disaster
If you were old enough to see the 1958 team, please share your memories / Younger readers, let us know what the team means to you…
1954
- Roger Byrne, Tommy Taylor, Allenby Chilton: Quarter-finals with England
England reached the quarter-finals at the 1954 World Cup before a 4-2 defeat to defending champions Uruguay.
Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor both played at the tournament, with Allenby Chilton named in the squad but not selected.
1950
- John Aston Sr, Henry Cockburn: Group stages with England
England’s first ever World Cup was a major disappointment with the team winning one and losing two group stage matches.
John Aston Sr played all three games, while clubmate Henry Cockburn did not feature.
1938
No representative
1934
No representative
1930
No representative
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