Marcus Rashford is even more determined to make a big impact at the World Cup after watching Cristiano Ronaldo star for Portugal.

Rashford is in contention to start England’s second group game, against Panama, on Sunday after impressing as a substitute during the 2-1 victory over Tunisia.

The Manchester United forward admits he has been studying Ronaldo closely and wants to try to emulate him in Russia.

The Real Madrid star scored Portugal’s winner against Morocco yesterday to add to his hat-trick in their opening 3-3 draw against Spain last Friday, which included a superb, late equaliser from a free-kick.

Rashford said: “I would probably say Ronaldo has impressed me the most in the tournament. That [Portugal v Spain] was the best game because he keeps making these moments that are just unbelievable and there is no better motivation than him.

“I couldn’t tell you a better motivational player than him.

“I go to the training ground, stand over the same sort of free-kick [he took against Spain] and try [to do the same thing].

“The confidence in his face — he is determined and looks certain he is going to score. This is the stage where it is most pressured and he takes it like it’s nothing.

“Is he the best player in the world? I would say so. He is not only maintaining it, he keeps hitting more heights. To get to that level, it takes years of doing that stuff in training every single day.

“There is basically nothing that can stop him going into the games and that’s his mindset.”

Rashford has made 20 appearances since his England debut two years ago, but is yet to get a regular run in the side.

A thigh injury sustained by Dele Alli, plus the disappointing form of Raheem Sterling on Monday, perhaps provides a window of opportunity for Rashford. But the 20-year-old is not going to get too despondent should he be named on the bench again.

Speaking to ITV Sport, he added: “Every player wants to start but you have to understand that if the squad is going to win the tournament, it is not going to be just 11 players.

“When you do start, you want to keep starting. That is the motivation for us. We are young and you can say that we are inexperienced, but I don’t feel inexperienced coming into the tournament.

“Football is such a big thing in England. I’ve seen it shape people’s lives. The win against Tunisia is the biggest feeling I’ve had in an England shirt. It [the fans’ reaction] just shows how much it means to them — and that means an awful lot to the players.

“That is just after one win. I know it could be crazy what we could turn it into. We will do our best.”

England will secure their place in the last 16 should they defeat Panama on Sunday and Belgium beat Tunisia the day before.

Rashford is taking nothing for granted against Panama, though, despite the fact they lost their opening match to the Belgians 3-0.

“They’re a team that can play good football,” he said. “We have to do what we can to nullify that.

“They like to play out from the back and they’ve got some quality in the team, so we have to show respect to them.”