Bruno Fernandes is part of a 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Competition organizers France Football have been gradually revealing the nominees for this prize, and others, throughout the day and Fernandes was a hard name to ignore after a record-breaking 2025/26.
Fernandes surpassed a long-standing Premier League benchmark, by registering 21 assists last term, and he swept the board in terms of solo accolades,
collecting his PFA Player of the Year trophy last month, after also claiming the writers’ equivalent in May.
Bruno has been nominated for the prize before, back in 2021, after his first full season with the Reds.
He finished joint-21st that year, with compatriot and then team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo placing sixth.
Lionel Messi won for the seventh occasion, a record he has since extended to eight, and the 39-year-old is thought to be among the frontrunners this time around.
Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Rodri and Lamine Yamal are also being hotly tipped to prevail at the 70th annual Ballon d’Or ceremony, which takes place in London on 26 October.
According to the award’s organisers: “The Ballon d’Or is awarded based on three essential pillars: individual performance, team achievements, and class combined with fair play.”
“While individual brilliance is paramount, the award also values the impact a player has on their team’s success. The combination of talent, sportsmanship, and competitive excellence defines the complete Ballon d’Or winner.”
United had three separate winners in the 1960s – Denis Law (1964), Sir Bobby Charlton (1966) and George Best (1968) – while Ronaldo claimed the first of his successes in 2008.
