Gary Lineker has hailed Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and believes he should be ahead of Erling Haaland for the Premier League’s Player of the Season award. The iconic former Tottenham Hotspur striker has been blown away by Fernandes’ performances.
This season feels like the one in which even rival fans have started to realise Fernandes’ enormous talent. The Portuguese playmaker started the campaign in a deeper midfield role rather than his preferred attacking midfield position.
The 31-year-old still excelled in Ruben Amorim’s system and was crucial as his side bounced back from last season’s 15th-placed finish. He has been let off the leash by Michael Carrick in the number 10 role and is on course to break the top-flight’s all-time assist record in a single campaign.
Manchester United – Flawless Fernandes
Fernandes was on target from the penalty spot in a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday (March 1st). He also provided a sensational cross for Benjamin Sesko to head home a vital winner.
That brought the United skipper’s tally for the season up to seven goals and 13 assists in 25 games. He is seven shy of Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne’s record of 20 assists in a single Premier League season.
Fernandes is arguably enjoying his best season since arriving at Old Trafford from Sporting CP in early 2020. He has proven his critics wrong and is leading by example at the Theatre of Dreams.
Lineker lavishes praise
Lineker feels he has been the best player in the league, and the only reason he might miss out on the award is a lack of trophy success. He said on The Rest is Football podcast:
“You see him on the left wing, you see him on the right wing… what a brain! I think he’s the player of the season for me. I know they’ll probably give it to someone that’s going to win something.”
United’s win against Palace moved them up to third, 10 points behind leaders Arsenal. Lineker thinks the Gunners’ Declan Rice is likely to win the award should his side win the title:
“For me, it’s probably him or maybe Declan Rice if Arsenal go on and manage to clinch the title. I suppose the only other one, if he came back and started banging in all the goals and won City the title, it might be Erling Haaland again.”
Lineker added:
“But at the moment, for me, to do what he’s done this season… and he was still the standout player even when they were going through a rotten spell when they were really struggling under Ruben Amorim. I think he’s got such a great footballing brain and technique. What a player, what a player!”
Fernandes has yet to win a title with United, and the likelihood of doing so this season is slim. He will be eager to fire the Reds back to the Champions League next season.
Is Fernandes the best?
There’s no telling where United would be if not for Fernandes, especially during the tumultuous Amorim reign. He was a guiding light in a dark period for the club, and it speaks volumes that he didn’t push to leave the Reds last summer.
| Bruno Fernandes (Premier League 2025-26) | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 25 |
| Goals: | 7 |
| Assists: | 13 |
| Big chances created: | 19 |
| Key passes: | 3.4 |
| Long balls (accurate): | 4.1 (59%) |
| Accurate crosses: | 1.4 (32%) |
| Ground duels won: | 3.4 (52%) |
Lineker hit the nail on the head regarding the Portuguese playmaker’s incredible footballing brain. If Fernandes were playing for Arsenal or Manchester City in the title race, he’d undoubtedly be claiming the Player of the Season award.
The hope will be that United kick on from here and look to be in the title picture next season. Fernandes deserves to finish his Old Trafford career with a Premier League winners’ medal.
