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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has secured a record fifth Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award after an exceptional individual campaign. The Portuguese playmaker has now surpassed club legends Cristiano Ronaldo and David de Gea, cementing his status as one of the most consistent players in the club’s modern history.
Red Devils captain honored
Fernandes has enjoyed a resurgent campaign under Michael Carrick, helping United secure a return to the Champions League despite an early season domestic cup exit. The 31-year-old’s influential performances, which included a remarkable 19 assists, have earned him the prestigious award for a record fifth time. This accolade places him alongside iconic former teammates De Gea and Ronaldo, cementing his status as a modern-day talisman at Old Trafford.
The Portugal international has weighed in with eight goals, but the headline grabbing stats surround his immense creativity. Having created 124 chances this term, the fourth-highest tally in a single Premier League campaign, Fernandes is on the verge of equaling the competition’s
The United captain currently has 19 assists in the league and needs just one more to match the 20 mark set by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, with two domestic games remaining to potentially surpass the legendary figure.
Legacy among the greats
Since arriving in 2020, Fernandes has consistently been the standout player at the club, first winning the award under Ole Gunnar Solskjær before achieving a personal best 28-goal streak the following year. After Marcus Rashford and Ronaldo claimed the trophy in the intervening seasons, Fernandes returned to the top of the fans’ poll in 2024 following FA Cup success at Wembley. By securing his latest victory, he becomes only the second player after De Gea to complete a hat-trick of consecutive victories.
Record-breaking finish in sight
United finish their season with a home game against Nottingham Forest this Sunday before traveling to Brighton a week later. These games represent a crucial opportunity for Fernandes to maintain his momentum and secure the individual assist record following a decisive turnaround in the club’s fortunes. With Champions League football safely secured for next term, the captain remains the focal point of a team looking to build on their strong finish and prepare for a significant summer of development.
2026 FIFA World Cup: How to watch
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread over three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament games will be broadcast live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every game streaming live and on-demand on both FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, are televised in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opener between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as will the USA’s June 12 opener against Paraguay (9 p.m. ET).
