Manchester United star, Bruno Fernandes, has been named the 2026 Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year after edging out Declan Rice in a tight contest for the prestigious accolade.
The Football Writers’ Association confirmed that the Bruno Fernandes secured 45 per cent of the votes from football journalists, finishing just 28 votes ahead of Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland placed third in the voting, while David Raya, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Magalhães also received notable support from voters.
Fernandes’ triumph makes him the first Manchester United player to win the award since Wayne Rooney in 2010.
The Portugal international has enjoyed a standout season, registering eight Premier League goals and moving within one assist of equalling the league’s single-season assist record of 20, jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
He also played a decisive role in Manchester United’s push for UEFA Champions League qualification, following managerial changes that saw Ruben Amorim depart in January and Michael Carrick take interim charge.
