From football to campaigning against child poverty – Rashford is doing amazing things on and off the pitch.
You might have heard of Marcus Rashford after watching him at the World Cup – but did you know these amazing facts about his football career AND the incredible things he does off the pitch?
Rashford is considered one of the most promising young players in the world, having come through the Manchester United academy and broken into the first team at a young age. He has since established himself as a key player and has won numerous honours, including the FA Cup, the Europa League, and the League Cup. Here are 10 facts about this talented player.
1. Rashford is the youngest English male player to score in scored in their first international match
Rashford made his England debut in May 2016, becoming the youngest English player to score in his first senior international match.
2. Marcus Rashford plays for Manchester United and England
Rashford is a footballer for Manchester United as well as England. You might have seen him playing for England in the World Cup.
3. Marcus Rashford joined Manchester United’s Academy at Age 7
Marcus Rashford was scouted at a very young age, which is when someone comes to see you play football and picks you to join their club.
He joined the training academy at Manchester United at just 7 years old.
4. Marcus Rashford is helping end Food Poverty
Rashford isn’t just an excellent footballer, he has helped millions of children and families beat hunger.
Rashford grew up in poverty, meaning that food wasn’t always available, he is committed to helping other children avoid that.
He helped raise enough money to enable FareShare, a food charity, were able to give over 21 million meals for children and families who might not otherwise eat.
He has also raised awareness of child hunger in the UK and campaigned the government to make changes!
What an amazing person!
5. Marcus Rashford was awarded an MBE for services to vulnerable children in the UK.
Special honours such as OBE, MBE and CBE are given to recognise people’s amazing achievements and service to the country and are awarded by the King or Queen.
Marcus Rashford was awarded his MBE for all the work he did helping children who were at risk of not having enough food to survive.
6. Marcus Rashford has his own book club
Marcus Rashford thinks reading is really important – so much so that he started his own Book Club.
Talking about why he started the Book Club he said ‘I only started reading at seventeen, and it completely changed my outlook and mentality. I just wish I was offered the opportunity to really engage with reading more as a child, but books were never a thing we could budget for as a family when we needed to put food on the table.’
The Book Club aims to encourage and nurture a love of reading and get free books to the children who need them the most.
Did you know 6% of children in the UK say they do not have their own book at home, which equates to over 400, 000 children in the UK.
Love reading- why not check out our podcast for Book Worms called, well, Book Worms.
7. Rashford has also written his own books
Marcus Rashford has written his own books including You Are a Champion, which was a no. 1 children’s best-seller that was named ‘Book of the Year’ by WHSmith and Sainsbury’s.
8. There is a mural of Rashford where he grew up
In 2020, a mural of Marcus Rashford was painted in the Withington area of Manchester, one of the places Rashford grew up, by street artist Akse P19. The mural was created in recognition of the work Rashford did during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom to help tackle child food poverty.
9. He was born on 31st October , 1997 in Wythenshawe, Manchester
Rashford doesn’t just play for Manchester United, it’s where he grew up too!
10. He is represented England in the 2022 World Cup.
He has also appeared at two UEFA European Championship; 2016, where he was the tournament’s youngest player, and 2020, where he appeared in the Final as England finished as runners-up to Italy.
