VIGO, Spain -- It was Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, no less, who claimed only last week that United striker Marcus Rashford is capable of becoming a "world star" at the club. Scholes doesn't dish out easy praise, but in his brief time as a coach at Old Trafford, he worked with Rashford and has seen the 19-year-old's prodigious talent at close quarters -- close enough to compare him to Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo.
"You look at Cristiano Ronaldo's record and players like Neymar," Scholes said. "[Rashford] has that kind of ability. It is a lot to live up to, but he has that in him. He can be a world star."
Rashford made his senior debut for United only 15 months ago, when he was called up as an unknown against FC Midtjylland by then-manager Louis van Gaal due to an injury crisis. Rashford is nowhere near the finished article, and comparisons to the likes of Neymar and Ronaldo may ultimately prove more harmful than beneficial. But by scoring his free kick match winner in a Europa League semifinal first leg against Celta Vigo on Thursday, securing a 1-0 United victory to put them on the brink of reaching the final in Stockholm on May 24, Rashford has ensured that such predictions of greatness will continue unabated.
United manager Jose Mourinho received criticism earlier this season for failing to hand Rashford more time on the pitch despite his performance last season and his elevation to the senior England squad under Roy Hodgson. But while Rashford was unable to dislodge veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic from the centre-forward position, forcing the teenager out wide when opportunities arose, he has gradually become a more important figure under Mourinho.
Only Paul Pogba has made as many first-team appearances this season (48) as United's boy wonder. Rashford's goal against Celta in Balaidos took him to 11 for the season so far, moving him clear of Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan as second only to Ibrahimovic's 28 in all competitions. Ibrahimovic's cruciate knee ligament injury ensures that Rashford is now United's talisman, and so far he is living up to the pressure that comes with such responsibility.
Rashford is also proving he's capable of playing in the central role that Mourinho, fearful of placing too much expectation on a raw teenager last summer, signed Ibrahimovic to fill.
"He has always been a centre-forward," Scholes added. "When I saw him playing for the young United teams, he was scoring 30-40 goals a season. I know this lad can finish and score goals. His pace is incredible, and he's almost the club's most important player now at the age of 19."
A club such as United should not rely so heavily on a 19-year-old, but they go into the final three weeks of the season with their hopes resting squarely on Rashford's shoulders. If he stays fit, United will be confident in their chances of securing Champions League qualification either through a top-four Premier League finish or a Europa League title, but if he becomes the latest player to fall victim to injury, their aspirations will be hanging in the balance.
Ultimately, Rashford's pace and confidence in front of goal are what mark him out as a special talent -- qualities that both Ronaldo and Neymar possessed as teenagers. To emulate either of those stars, he'll have to work constantly on his game and seek the improvement and consistency that has enabled Ronaldo and Neymar to reach the very top. Yet Mourinho insists that he does not lack the work rate or dedication to take his game to another level.
"[Rashford] is a 19-year-old kid, but he's a 19-year-old kid in love with football," Mourinho said. "A kid that finishes a training session and stays half an hour more every day to take free kicks and to wait for the opportunity.
"His mentality -- he works, he works, he works. He's very mature, and let's forget the age because what matters is not age but the quality. In this game, he worked really hard, creating problems, having a fantastic shot in first half which brought a beautiful save. He works so hard.
"And his free kick, with the speed and the movement, it was impossible for the keeper to save it."
With Ibrahimovic expected to be out until at least January after knee surgery -- he may even opt to leave Old Trafford if his contract is not extended this summer -- and Wayne Rooney's United career clearly coming to an end, Mourinho will be in the market for at least one new forward. He wants Torino's Andrea Belotti or Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann, but even if United is able to sign both, they will be recruited to work with Rashford rather than replace him.
United will always want a star addition, but they already have their own homegrown superstar in Rashford, and he will only get better.
Mark Ogden is a senior football writer for ESPN FC. Follow him @MarkOgden_
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