Who has scored the most goals in the Manchester derby? Can Erling Haaland catch Wayne Rooney on Man City-Man United list

Dom Farrell

Who has scored the most goals in the Manchester derby? Can Erling Haaland catch Wayne Rooney on Man City-Man United list image

Manchester City face Manchester United in a re-run of last season's FA Cup final, with Pep Guardiola's men chasing the unprecedented feat of back-to-back domestic doubles.

Since Ilkay Gundogan's match-winning brace at Wembley 12 months ago, City have won both Premier League derbies in the 2023/24 season.

A game-sealing goal in a 3-1 win at the Etihad Stadium moved Erling Haaland onto six goals in just five appearances in the fixture. Coincidentally, Phil Foden's brace and Marcus Rashford's fabulous opener also put those two Mancunians on half a dozen derby goals.

Where does that leave the Norwegian goalscoring phenomenon in the overall Manchester derby rankings?

MORE: Man City vs Man United prediction, odds, expert betting tips, preview for Manchester derby

Manchester derby all-time top scorers in Man United vs. Man City

Wayne Rooney's iconic overhead kick to snatch a 2-1 win for United over City at Old Trafford in February 2011 stands as one of the greatest goals in the long history of this fixture.

It was also part of a haul of 11 derby strikes that puts Rooney top of the all-time standings.

City duo Francis Lee and Joe Hayes are up next on 10 apiece, one ahead of United and England great Bobby Charlton and Rooney's contemporary Sergio Aguero.

RankPlayerClub Goals
1.Wayne RooneyUnited11
2.Joe HayesCity10
=Francis LeeCity10
4.Sergio AgueroCity9
=Bobby CharltonUnited9
6.Colin BellCity 8
=Eric CantonaUnited8
=Brian KiddUnited (5)/City (3)8
=Joe SpenceUnited 8
10.Paul ScholesUnited7
=Dennis VioletUnited7
 Marcus RashfordUnited6
 Erling HaalandCity6
 Phil FodenCity 6

After a cluster of four players on eight derby goals, including Eric Cantona and Colin Bell — each transformative presences for their clubs during their respective eras in the 1990s and 1960s — United heroes Paul Scholes and Dennis Violet have seven each.

MORE: Bobby Charlton and Francis Lee: The men who made the Manchester derby's golden era

Who has Erling Haaland scored the most goals against?

If it's any consolation to the United defenders he has tormented over the past couple of seasons (it is worth noting Haaland didn't score in either the 2023 FA Cup final or last season's Old Trafford derby), they can take solace in the fact that they are not alone.

United are now joint-third on Haaland's career hitlist, although he reached six against Sevilla, Wolfsberger and Luton in fewer appearances.

His FA Cup haul against the Hatters this season made Haaland the first player in City history to five goals in two separate matches. He did likewise in a 7-0 Champions League thrashing of RB Leipzig last term and the east Germans are the most fruitful opponents of his career.

Erling Haaland record vs.

Opponent GoalsGames
RB Leipzig128
Wolves84
Bayern Munich79
Manchester United65
Sevilla64
Wolfsberger62
Luton Town62
Wolfsberg55
Hertha Berlin54
Brann53
Fulham53
Burnley53
Crystal Palace53

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.