Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been crowned the 2026 Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Players’ Player of the Year, following an outstanding 2025/26 campaign.
The Portuguese midfielder received the prestigious award on Tuesday at the 53rd annual PFA Awards ceremony held at the Manchester Opera House in the United Kingdom.
Fernandes emerged as the winner after fellow professional footballers voted him the best player in the men’s category. He defeated five other shortlisted players, including Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki, alongside Arsenal stars Declan Rice, David Raya and Gabriel Magalhães.
The recognition comes after a highly impressive season for the Manchester United skipper, who played a crucial role in helping the club secure a third-place finish in the Premier League and qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Fernandes also recorded one of the best statistical campaigns of his career, registering 21 assists in the Premier League. His performances had previously earned him the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award as well as the Premier League Player of the Season honour.
Haaland, who finished among the nominees, had another productive campaign for Manchester City, winning the Premier League Golden Boot after scoring 27 goals in 35 league appearances. His teammate Cherki was also recognised for his strong debut season in English football.
Arsenal’s title-winning campaign saw three of its players make the final shortlist, with Rice, Raya and Gabriel Magalhães all competing for the individual prize.
The PFA award holds particular significance because the winner is selected by fellow professional footballers, rather than supporters, journalists or an independent judging panel.
Fernandes, who joined Manchester United in January 2020, has continued to establish himself as a key figure at the club, and the latest honour further highlights his influence and consistency at the highest level.