Manchester United have not had a player win the Ballon d’Or since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008, but Bruno Fernandes currently has the best chance of changing that.
There is no doubt that Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United’s best player and he has been ever since his arrival at the club in 2020.
Fernandes disagrees with United fans who argue that the club would be nowhere without him, but his numbers prove that he is not only one of the best in the Premier League, but in the world.
Bruno Fernandes is up there with United’s greats in the Premier League era
Do you think Bruno can get to 300 combined goals and assists for United?
In his six years at the club, Fernandes has won four Player of the Year awards at United, matching the record set by Cristiano Ronaldo and David de Gea.
While United have been far away from winning major honours with Bruno Fernandes, the Portuguese playmaker has never been far from the individual awards and he has an outside chance at challenging for the Ballon d’Or if everything in 2026 goes according to plan.
What Bruno Fernandes would have to do to compete for Ballon d’Or
With 12 assists already this season, Fernandes is chasing the Premier League assist record of 20 in one season, currently held by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry.
Since Michael Carrick took charge and tactically shifted Fernandes back to an attacking No.10 role, he has been in sensational form with five assists in his last six league matches.
Because of his incredible individual performances, Fernandes is competing for Premier League Player of the Season, and United’s recent run into the Champions League spots gives him a good chance of winning.
What does Bruno Fernandes have to do in 2026 to challenge for the Ballon d’Or?
Win the World Cup? Win the Premier League POTY? Break the assist record?
But the Ballon d’Or often relies on winning team trophies too. United are already out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup and have no European football, so Fernandes’ only hope is international.
The 2026 World Cup is just around the corner and Fernandes will be a key player for Portugal, who are among the favourites to win the tournament.
If Fernandes lifts the World Cup with Portugal and breaks the Premier League assist record, all while winning Player of the Season and leading United to Champions League qualification, surely he will be in the conversation?
Bruno Fernandes should be in Ballon d’Or conversations
It is well-known that the Ballon d’Or, while an individual award, heavily relies on winning football’s biggest trophies.
Fernandes dreams of winning the Premier League at United, and he stayed loyal to the Red Devils to try and achieve that dream by rejecting a move to Saudi Arabia last summer.
But arguably, what Fernandes has done for a below-par United side should be valued much higher than some of his Ballon d’Or competitors.
Fernandes has dominated Premier League charts for creativity and output, including chances created and assists, despite spending most of the season playing in a deep midfield role under Ruben Amorim.
Carrick’s tactical shift has unleashed his attacking output, and his numbers have been ignored for too long. This is a world-class footballer, and certainly one who should be in the Ballon d’Or conversation.
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