Portuguese joins Keane, Cantona and Ronaldo in high-profile list of winners
Bruno Fernandes has been named the 2026 Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year after narrowly beating Declan Rice in the final vote.
The Manchester United captain received 45 per cent of votes cast by English football writers, finishing just 28 votes ahead of the Arsenal midfielder.
Erling Haaland finished third in the voting, while Arsenal trio David Raya, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Magalhaes also received significant support.
The award puts Fernandes in some exclusive company among the United greats. He is the first United player to win the award since Wayne Rooney in 2010, and he is now the 10th player of the club to receive the honour since it was first presented in 1948, joining names such as Bobby Charlton, Eric Cantona, Roy Keane and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Here is the full list of winners:
- Bruno Fernandes (2025/26)
- Wayne Rooney (2009/10)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (2006/07, 2007/08)
- Teddy Sheringham (2000/01)
- Roy Keane (1999/00)
- Eric Cantona (1993/94)
- George Best (1967/68)
- Bobby Charlton (1965/66)
- Johnny Carey (1948/49)
Fernandes has been central to United’s campaign this season, scoring eight Premier League goals and leading the assist charts in the league with 19. He needs just one more assist from the club’s final three league games to equal the Premier League single-season record of 20, currently shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
The FWA Footballer of the Year award could open the doorway to him winning the Premier League Player of the Year and the PFA Players’ Player of the Year awards.
