Manchester United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes, has officially been named the 2025/26 Player of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association. In what turned out to be a closely contested race, the Portuguese playmaker edged out Arsenal’s Declan Rice by a narrow margin of 28 votes, while Manchester City’s Erling Haaland secured the third spot in the rankings.
This victory is a significant milestone for both the player and his club. Fernandes becomes the first Manchester United representative to receive this honor in sixteen years, following in the footsteps of Wayne Rooney, who last won it for the Red Devils in 2010. By claiming this trophy, he joins an elite group of nine United legends who have been recognized by the press as the league’s standout performer.
The Football Writers’ Association award holds a special place in the history of the English game. Established in 1947, it is the oldest and arguably the most prestigious individual accolade in the country, decided by the collective voices of nearly 900 professional football journalists. Zoyols Blog notes that Fernandes dominated the polls this year, capturing over 45% of the total votes cast by the association’s members.
The 31-year-old’s triumph comes on the back of an extraordinary season where he essentially carried Manchester United’s creative burden, guiding the team back to a third-place finish and securing a vital return to Champions League football. His influence on the pitch has been nothing short of transformative. With 19 assists already to his name, Fernandes is currently on the verge of footballing history. He needs just one more to equal the all-time Premier League record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, with three matches still left to potentially set a new benchmark.
Statistically, the former Sporting Lisbon star has been in a league of his own. Beyond his creative output, he has chipped in with eight goals, bringing his total league goal contributions to 27 for the campaign. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that he has created 29 “big chances” for his teammates, a testament to his vision and consistency.
Zoyols Blog also highlights that this win breaks a long-standing trend in English football. Fernandes is the first player in over a decade to win the award while playing for a club outside of the top two league positions, a feat last achieved by Gareth Bale in 2013. Additionally, he becomes only the third Portuguese player to ever lift the trophy, joining the esteemed company of Ruben Dias and his former teammate, Cristiano Ronaldo. Since arriving at Old Trafford in January 2020, Fernandes has often been the heartbeat of the team, and this latest recognition confirms his status as one of the Premier League’s truly modern greats.
