Bruno Fernandes stands out as a strong candidate for the Premier League Player of the Year award.

As the 2025-26 Premier League season approaches its climax, the fervor surrounding the race for the Player of the Year award reaches staggering levels. While players from Arsenal and Manchester City are the natural favorites, an unexpected contender emerges from the red side of Manchester: Bruno Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder has not only stood out as the undisputed star of Manchester United, but he has also established himself as the most influential creative force in the league.

Since the appointment of Michael Carrick as manager, Fernandes has resurfaced with renewed vitality. He leads the Premier League in key chances created, decisive passes, and expected assists, an impressive feat that demonstrates his importance in the team’s tactical setup. Following a standout performance against Crystal Palace, where he scored a goal and assisted Benjamin Sesko, Fernandes made history by becoming the first United player since David Beckham to achieve both a goal and an assist in 18 league matches.

With 13 assists accumulated and seven goals to his name, Bruno Fernandes is the frontrunner for the Playmaker Award, and he is on track to break the record for assists in the Premier League, which stands at 20 in a single season. What makes his campaign even more impressive is his ability to shine in critical moments of 2026, where he excelled in victories over giants such as Manchester City, Arsenal, and Tottenham.

If Manchester United can maintain their positive momentum until the end of the season, the argument for Fernandes’ candidacy for the Player of the Year title will only become stronger. At this moment, he is not only fighting to be considered the best midfielder in the league but also to become the face of United’s resurgence in the elite of English football. What is at stake is more than an individual award; it is the assertion that Bruno Fernandes is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world and a symbol of the new era of Manchester United.