Manchester United captain, Bruno Fernandes, has been named the 2026 Professional Footballers’ Association Players’ Player of the Year.
The award was presented at the 53rd annual PFA Awards ceremony at the Manchester Opera House in Manchester, United Kingdom, on Tuesday.
The Portuguese midfielder received the prestigious honour after being voted the best player of the 2025/26 season by his fellow professionals. The PFA announced the award on Tuesday, with Fernandes beating five other nominees in the men’s category.
The nominees were Manchester City duo Erling Haaland and Rayan Cherki, as well as Arsenal trio Declan Rice, David Raya and Gabriel Magalhães.
The award caps a remarkable individual campaign for Fernandes, who 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, providing 21 assists in the Premier League. He had earlier been named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year and the Premier League’s Player of the Season.
Haaland entered the contest after winning the Premier League Golden Boot for the third time, scoring 27 goals in 35 league appearances for Manchester City. His City teammate Cherki was also recognised after an impressive first season in English football.
Arsenal had three representatives in the final six following their title-winning campaign, with Rice, Raya and Gabriel all making the shortlist.
The PFA Players’ Player of the Year is particularly significant because fellow players, rather than fans, journalists, or a judging panel, determine the winner.
Fernandes’ triumph continues a strong run of individual recognition for the Manchester United captain, who has established himself as one of the club’s most influential players since joining the side in January 2020.
