AFCON 2025
Bruno Fernandes has been named the 2026 Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Players’ Player of the Year.
The Manchester United captain received the prestigious award at the 53rd annual PFA Awards ceremony held at the Manchester Opera House in Manchester on Tuesday.
Fernandes was voted the outstanding player of the 2025/26 season by his fellow professionals, beating five other nominees to claim the men’s award.
The Portuguese midfielder was recognised for an outstanding campaign in which he played a key role in Manchester United’s third-place finish in the Premier League and their return to the UEFA Champions League.
Fernandes also enjoyed a record-breaking season, registering 21 assists in the Premier League. His performances had previously earned him the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award and the Premier League Player of the Season prize.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who won the Premier League Golden Boot after scoring 27 goals in 35 appearances, was among the other nominees. His teammate Rayan Cherki was also shortlisted following an impressive debut season in English football.
Arsenal had three players among the final six, with Declan Rice, David Raya and Gabriel Magalhães all recognised after their club’s title-winning campaign.
The PFA Players’ Player of the Year remains one of the most respected individual honours in English football because the winner is determined by fellow professional footballers.
Fernandes’ latest recognition adds to a remarkable run of individual honours and further underlines his importance to Manchester United since joining the club in January 2020.
