FWA Footballer of the Year: Bruno Fernandes sets sights on all-time assist record

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been named the 2026 FWA Footballer of the Year, winning 45% of the vote in a historically close race. 

He edged out Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice by just 28 votes. Former winner Erling Haaland finished third, while Arsenal dominated the remaining top spots with David Raya, Bukayo Saka, and Gabriel.

Fernandes is the first Manchester United player to win the award in 16 years, following Wayne Rooney in 2010. United now sits second on the all-time list with 10 winners, trailing only Liverpool (16). 

With three games left in the Premier League season, Fernandes needs just one more assist to equal the all-time single-season record (20) currently held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. 

The 31-year-old was praised for his “precept and example” in leading United to Champions League qualification under Michael Carrick, following the mid-season sacking of Ruben Amorim. Manchester City’s Bunny Shaw won the women’s Footballer of the Year in a landslide. 

The Jamaica international scored 19 goals to secure a WSL title for City and took the trophy for the second time in her career. Despite her win, Shaw is expected to depart Manchester City when her contract expires this summer.