Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been named FWA Footballer of the Year 2026, winning 45% of the votes in a historically close race.
He defeated Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice by just 28 votes. Former winner Erling Haaland finished third, while Arsenal dominated the remaining top positions with David Raya, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel.
Fernandes is the first Manchester United player in 16 years to win the award, after Wayne Rooney in 2010. United are now second on the all-time list with 10 winners, behind 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 “prescription and example” in leading United to Champions League qualification under Michael Carrick following the sacking of Ruben Amorim mid-season. Manchester City’s Bunny Shaw was voted Women’s Footballer of the Year by a large margin.
The Jamaican international scored 19 goals to secure the WSL title for City, lifting the trophy for the second time in her career. Despite her win, Shaw is expected to leave Manchester City when her contract expires this summer.
