Emotional Rashford bursts into tears as Man United win the FA Cup (2024)

Marcus Rashford was overcome with emotion after Manchester United stunned Manchester City to win the FA Cup at Wembley.

Television cameras and photographers captured the lifelong United fan and academy graduate shedding tears at the final whistle after the 2-1 win.

First-half goals by Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo won United the FA Cup for the 13th time in their history as they upset the odds.

It was a happy ending to what has been a hugely disappointing season on and off the pitch for Rashford, who has found the net only eight times having notched 30 in 2022-23.

Taking to X after the final whistle, Rashford shared a photo of himself crying, with the caption: 'People want to know what Man Utd means to me!'

Victory at Wembley also came after a tough week in which the 26-year-old missed out on Gareth Southgate's England squad for Euro 2024.

Rashford, 26, has also faced criticism after heembarked on a 12-hour tequila benderin Belfast back in January and then reported ill for United training.

That incident came following further criticism for Rashford in Novemberwhen he went to a nightclub in the aftermath of United's 3-0 derby defeat by Man Cityin October.

In regards to his escapades in Belfast, a report in The Sun claimedRashford reportedly collapsed fully clothed into bed hours before he called in sick to training following an all-day drinking session.

The 26-year-old, who has been lauded in recent years for his charity work and even received an MBE for his efforts to battle food poverty, is alleged to have downed shots of tequila during a boozy trip to the Northern Irish capital.

The trip was made to visit his friend and former Untied youngster Ro-Shaun Williams, who had just signed for Larne FC.

A waitress, who claims she was invited out by the England star, said at the end of the night he was so drunk that he dropped wads of cash in front of her in his five-star hotel room, moments before she was forced to put him to bed after he passed out.

Speaking to The Sun, Sarah Adair claimed Rashford, who is reportedly paid £325,000 a week, invited her on the 'weird' night out in which she said he was 'clearly on a mission to get drunk'.

The footballer, who was pictured having dinnerwith his childhood sweetheart fiance Lucia Loi in November months after they split, was also allegedly seen arguing with a French woman at a nightclub.

Rashford's behaviour, which saw him dropped from the United team and saw the club issue a statement saying he had 'taken responsibility', is alleged to have angered his team-mateswith one source saying: 'They couldn't believe that he would do that given the situation the club is in.'

The difficult campaign has led to speculation Rashford could be sold by United in the summer, with the forward linked with Paris Saint-Germain in the past.

Rashford started the FA Cup final at Wembley and completed 74 minutes before Erik ten Hag replaced him with Rasmus Hojlund.

Teenagers Garnacho and Mainoo stole the show with two goals late in the opening half to leave City stunned.

Although Jeremy Doku rewarded City's second-half dominance with a late reply, they were unable to force extra time with an equaliser as their Double ambitions died.

Rashford's show of emotion as he embraced his team-mates was well-received by United fans on social media - although some interpreted it as a farewell.

But others described it as an outpouring of joy after what has been a difficult season as he helped win the FA Cup for his beloved club.

There was disappointment this week as Southgate left him out of England's 33-man training squad ahead of the Euros in Germany.

That came after off-field troubles as Rashford mourned two deaths within his circle of family and friends, and hit out at social media criticism from fans.

Earlier this year, Rashford's mother opened up on her son's recent struggles as she revealed the deaths of two people close to him 'set him back a lot', while warning the star of 'people's intentions around him'.

In a first-person piece published in The Times, Melanie Maynard said her son struggled to come to terms with the loss of his cousin Nathan last year, which followed the death of a 'very good family friend', Garf, in 2022.

In late April, Rashford replied to a supportive social media post, saying he had been suffering abuse 'for months' and that 'enough was enough'.

An account called @UtdParadigm wrote: 'The way Marcus Rashford is being treated is absolutely disgusting. It's cruel. It's abuse.'

The player replied: 'I appreciate your support! It is abuse and has been for months. Enough is enough.'