Marcus Rashford netted his fourth career World Cup goal on June 17, putting his name alongside Sir Bobby Charlton and Michael Owen in England’s record books.

The goal came during England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia in their 2026 World Cup group stage opener, a match that also saw contributions from Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. For Rashford, it was a continuation of the form he showed during Qatar 2022, where he bagged three goals.

The milestone in context

Sir Bobby Charlton scored four World Cup goals. Michael Owen also finished with four. Rashford joining that pair at 28 years old means he has a realistic shot at standing alone atop the list.

Harry Kane entered the 2026 tournament with eight World Cup goals for England, making him the outright leader. Kane’s total includes a Golden Boot-winning six-goal haul from Russia 2018. Rashford’s four have been spread more evenly, all coming across just two tournaments.

The match itself pushed England’s all-time World Cup goal tally to 100.

A tournament built different

This World Cup is the first to feature 48 teams, expanded from the traditional 32-team format. The tournament is being co-hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Rashford’s redemption arc

Rashford’s three goals in Qatar 2022 reminded everyone what he’s capable of when the stage is big enough. Now, with his fourth, he has tied Sir Bobby Charlton and Michael Owen for the most World Cup goals by an England player.

For crypto-adjacent observers watching the World Cup through the lens of fan tokens and digital engagement, Rashford’s milestone doesn’t carry direct market implications. No specific crypto projects or tokens are directly tied to Rashford’s accomplishment.