Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been officially named the 2025/26 Football Writers' Association (FWA) Men's Footballer of the Year, beco
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been officially named the 2025/26 Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Men’s Footballer of the Year, becoming the first player from Old Trafford to win the prestigious award since Wayne Rooney in 2010.
The 31-year-old Portuguese midfielder secured 45% of the votes from over 900 football journalists, edging out Arsenal’s Declan Rice by 28 votes as Manchester City’s Erling Haaland finished third.
The award recognises his outstanding individual contribution to Manchester United, which has seen him described as a shining light during a challenging period for the club.
Throughout the 2025-26 season, Fernandes has been instrumental for United, recording eight goals and 19 assists in the Premier League to help the team secure a return to the Champions League.
His high-level creativity and work rate set him apart from his peers, with many critics highlighting his consistency in a chaotic season for the team.
His performance leading up to the award, particularly his assists, brought him within one assist of equalling the Premier League’s record of 20 in a single season.
This recognition marks a significant milestone in Fernandes’ career at Manchester United, cementing his status as a key leader and “beautiful captain” under managers such as interim boss Michael Carrick.
He now joins an elite list of previous winners, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Eric Cantona, and Bobby Charlton.
The FWA chair, John Cross of Daily Mirror, praised him and fellow winner Khadija “Bunny” Shaw as exceptional role models who have been highly influential in their respective teams this season.
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