250 goals and counting: Rooney sets United's all-time scoring record

Wayne Rooney stands alone.

The longtime Manchester United captain broke a tie with Sir Bobby Charlton on Saturday, distancing himself as the club's all-time leading scorer with his 250th strike for the Red Devils.

History will remember the goal well. His powerful free-kick in the 94th minute gave United an important equaliser against Stoke City, which had to settle for a 1-1 draw after a hard-fought resistance.

Rooney now owns records for both United and England, surpassing Charlton on both occasions. He is also the Premier League's highest away scorer with 88 tallies.

Charlton - who held the previous United benchmark for more than 40 years - was in attendance at Stoke's bet365 Stadium to watch the dramatic moment unfold.

"It means a hell of a lot. It is a great honour and I am very proud," Rooney said after the match. "It is difficult at the minute to be over-pleased because of the result, but in the grand scheme it is a huge honour.

"It is not something I expected when I joined (United). As I said before, I am proud and I hope there is more to come."

Resigned to the fact he is no longer the first name on United's team sheet, the 31-year-old made his eighth substitution appearance of the season Saturday.

Rooney replaced the unfortunate Juan Mata in the 67th minute and helped United in its chase for an equaliser following the Spaniard's first-half own goal.

Joe Allen's foul on the far edge of the box awarded the visitor a lifeline, and with one of the final kicks of the match, Rooney swerved a wonderful right-footed effort beyond the outstretched reach of Stoke 'keeper Lee Grant.

"The record is the record. It is the record of the biggest club in England and one of the biggest in the world," added manager Jose Mourinho. "Before him the record belonged to a legend of English football - now Wayne becomes a legend of Manchester United."

The born-and-bred Liverpool native achieved the feat in 13 seasons with United, the club he joined as a teenager in 2004 from Everton.