He is in the running for the Golden Boot, was the first player to score directly from a free kick at this World Cup and put Wales to the sword.
In short, Marcus Rashford has got his mojo back. But after marking his first tournament start with a double that sunk the Welsh and sent England marching into the knockout stage and a Sunday showdown with Senegal, does that make the Manchester United striker undroppable?
The Mirror’s chief football writer John Cross and chief sports writer Andy Dunn disagree and present their arguments here. So, is Rashford undroppable for Gareth Southgate...?
ANDY DUNN - NO
Here's a thing. Had Marcus Rashford been hooked at half-time of Wales versus England, there could have been few complaints, not even from the player himself.
Of course, the Manchester United striker more than atoned for his haphazard 45 minutes by striking twice after the break. But without being too harsh on Danny Ward, the Welsh keeper could be held to account for both Rashford goals.
The set-piece was a nice hit but went half a yard inside the post at a nice saveable height, and you all saw the nutmegged second. That is not to undervalue Rashford’s impact nor his match-winning role and he clearly has momentum going into the knockout stage.
Do you think Marcus Rashford is undroppable? Join in the debate here
But it was only 10 days ago when Bukayo Saka - England’s reigning Player of the Year, by the way - was seemingly making himself undroppable with a stellar performance against Iran.
No matter what some characters filling radio phone-in airtime might say, the man who is undroppable is Harry Kane. So, essentially, Gareth Southgate is in a situation where he had to choose two from four to start either side of his captain against Senegal.
That is two from Saka, Rashford, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden. Even aside from his goal, Foden did enough against Wales to make himself an almost-certain inclusion for Sunday’s match. Which leaves Sterling, Saka and Rashford.
Sterling was a Southgate staple at both Russia 2018, where the only game he did not start was a group-stage dead rubber against Belgium, and at Euro 2020, where he started every game.
It is undeniable the Chelsea attacker is not in his richest vein of form but he knows what it takes to perform well in these sort of big games. Saka is in a rich vein of form and can probably offer more defensive cover than Rashford can.
It goes without saying it is a very good dilemma for Southgate to have, as I am sure he will stress when he next speaks to the media. It shows the strength in depth of this England squad and, in these days, football at this level has become a 16-man game.
Whoever Southgate chooses to start, he will have at least two great attacking options to use - and don’t forget about Jack Grealish - as the match progresses.
Football substitutes are becoming similar to rugby’s ‘finishers’ - especially as the average game out here is lasting about two hours - so whoever Southgate selects from the off, there should be no great furore.
But while the weight of popular opinion would seem to be in favour of Rashford starting, he should not be an automatic choice on the back of a game-sealing display against a Wales team whose bodies and spirit were broken.
Loyalty should not be a deciding factor but Sterling has rarely let Southgate down and the combination with Kane and Foden should trouble any team. If Southgate sticks with Rashford, fine. Mentally and physically - although maybe not technically - he is flying. But he is not undroppable.
JOHN CROSS - YES
Marcus Rashford has made himself undroppable.
You have to go with the player in form, the one full of confidence and scoring goals for fun. Down the years, World Cups have been littered with players who have been surprise success stories because they seized their opportunities - and never looked back.
Just look at the heroes from down the years - Paolo Rossi, Paul Gascoigne, Toto Squillaci. The list goes on. You would be foolish not to take advantage of their red-hot form. Now, Gareth Southgate has a wonderful headache ahead of the last-16 showdown with Senegal because he is faced with the dilemma of dropping Rashford and Phil Foden to bring back Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling.
Sterling and Saka went into this tournament as leaders in the club house, the first choice pairing either side of Harry Kane and were brilliant against Iran. But they, like other players, looked tired against United States and Foden and Rashford were brought in to freshen it up. Rashford is perhaps more direct, but he still works hard and is proving that he can score goals.
Foden is one of the best players of his type in the world - he must be because he plays week in, week out for the best club team in Manchester City under the best club manager in Pep Guardiola.
Now, not only does Rashford need to keep his place, but what about the other two? If possession is nine tenths of the law, then Rashford and Foden are hard to displace. Rashford is a wonderful story because he had not kicked a ball for England since missing a penalty in the shootout at the Euros final last year.
He has fought back from that low to force his way back into the England set-up. He is clearly a leader and an important figure in the group.
Sterling always delivers for England and Saka is the Player of the Year. But you have to go with who is in form, who is scoring goals and who can be the hero. That is why Rashford should keep his place against Senegal. I can’t even bring myself to decide at whose expense. But it would be unthinkable to leave him out now.
His pace, directness and work rate made him such a threat against Wales. His free kick was sensational, he scored another and played a part in the other goal. That won him Man of the Match and he should stay in. This would push the others and should raise their level in training. It’s great to have such competition.
Just think back to the 2019 Champions League final. Lucas Moura scored a hat trick in the semi-final against Ajax - and was left on the bench for the final against Liverpool. That was a crazy decision and still looks bizarre. Leaving Rashford out on Sunday would look just as daft - especially if England end up losing.
Gareth Southgate would regret it forever.
