Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been crowned the 2026 PFA Players’ Player of the Year after a remarkable 2025/26 campaign.
Fernandes received the prestigious award on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the 53rd annual PFA Awards ceremony in Manchester, after being voted the outstanding player by his fellow professionals.
The Portugal international emerged ahead of a strong six-man shortlist that included Arsenal trio Declan Rice, David Raya and Gabriel Magalhães, as well as Manchester City stars Erling Haaland and Rayan
The recognition caps a superb individual campaign for Fernandes, who played a central role in Manchester United’s recovery from a difficult start to the season.
The 31-year-old midfielder produced some of the best numbers of his Manchester United career during the 2025/26 season.
Fernandes registered 21 assists in the Premier League, surpassing the previous single-season record of 20 jointly held by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and Manchester City great Kevin De Bruyne.
His creativity proved crucial as United improved significantly during the second half of the campaign under manager Michael Carrick.
The Red Devils eventually finished third in the Premier League, securing Champions League football for the following season.
Fernandes combined his creativity with goals, leadership and an ability to influence important matches, making him one of the most important figures in United’s campaign.
The PFA award completes an impressive individual awards treble for Fernandes.
Before Tuesday’s ceremony, he had already been named Premier League Player of the Season and Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year.
However, the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award carries particular weight because it is determined by votes from fellow professional footballers.
The PFA confirmed that its members vote for players within their respective leagues, making Fernandes’ victory a significant endorsement from the players he competes against every week.
Fernandes Beats Strong Competition
Fernandes faced serious competition for the award.
Arsenal’s Declan Rice was among the leading contenders after helping the Gunners secure the Premier League title, while David Raya and Gabriel Magalhães also enjoyed outstanding campaigns.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, meanwhile, finished the season as the Premier League’s leading goalscorer with 27 goals, while Rayan Cherki impressed during his first campaign in English football.
The award further underlines Fernandes’ importance to Manchester United since his arrival from Sporting CP in January 2020.
He has developed into one of the club’s principal creative players and became captain, taking on greater responsibility both on and off the pitch.
His record-breaking assist tally, combined with his leadership during United’s resurgence, helped make the 2025/26 season one of the most memorable individual campaigns of his career.
For Manchester United, Fernandes’ success also provides a major boost as the club prepares to return to the Champions League and build on its third-place Premier League finish.
After a season in which he broke a long-standing assist record and collected several major individual honours, Fernandes can now add the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award to his growing list of achievements.
