Forget Declan Rice: Three undeniable reasons why Bruno Fernandes deserves the PFA Player of the Year award

Manchester United have been the best English club in 2026, collecting 23 points out of the possible 30.

That surge has propelled them into third place, putting them firmly on course for UEFA Champions League qualification next season.

At the heart of this resurgence is talismanic captain Bruno Fernandes.

The Portuguese playmaker has elevated his performances to extraordinary levels, surpassing even the highest expectations.

There is now a growing sense that he is the frontrunner for the PFA Player of the Year award for the 2025–26 campaign.

If you are looking for justification, be prepared to be overwhelmed by the evidence.

Consistently magnificent

Fernandes has been the embodiment of consistency, delivering elite performances week after week.

Unlike many of his rivals, he has avoided any prolonged dip in form. Astonishingly, his longest run without a goal or assist stands at just two matches.

Erling Haaland remains a strong contender, but his form has cooled after a blistering first half of the season.

Declan Rice has registered just two goals and two assists across three months of football in 2026. While some may point to Rice’s deeper role, Fernandes has excelled even when deployed further back under former head coach Ruben Amorim.

Crazy output

Coming to the numbers, Fernandes has racked up eight goals and an astonishing 16 assists. Yes, you read that right.

Across just 28 Premier League appearances, he has directly contributed to 24 goals.

In doing so, he has already surpassed David Beckham’s long-standing club record of 15 assists in a single league season.

With seven games still to play, he now has his sights set on the all-time record of 20, jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

Past precedent

Fernandes faces competition from Haaland, Rice, Gabriel and Antoine Semenyo.

Arsenal and Man City fans may argue that Fernandes falls short because United are not in the title race. They are wrong.

Players like Mohamed Salah, Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale have all won the award without lifting the league title. In fact, Tottenham Hotspur finished as low as fifth when Bale claimed the honour.

Fernandes deserves the trophy. A strong finish to the campaign will only make his case even stronger.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

Article written by Sanidhya Bhardwaj .