Bruno Fernandes has revealed that he voted for an Arsenal player to win the PFA Men’s Players’ Player of the Year award, despite eventually taking home the prestigious prize himself. The Manchester United captain was recognised for an outstanding 2025-26 campaign in which he played a central role in his team’s success and broke the Premier League record for assists in a single season.

Fernandes was among the leading contenders for the individual award after producing one of the most productive campaigns of his career. His performances helped Manchester United finish third in the Premier League and secure qualification for the Champions League, while his creativity in the final third made him one of the most influential players in the competition.

The Portuguese international attended the PFA Awards ceremony at Manchester’s Opera House on Tuesday evening with his wife, Ana Pinho. Before the ceremony began, Fernandes spoke to the media on the red carpet and discussed the award, his voting decision and the season he had just completed.

Because nominees are not permitted to vote for themselves, Fernandes was required to select another player for the award. Interestingly, he revealed that his own vote went to an Arsenal star.

Fernandes chose not to reveal the identity of the player, but he was full of praise for Arsenal’s performances throughout the campaign. He described the Gunners as an extremely strong side and acknowledged how difficult they had been to face during the season.

According to Fernandes, Arsenal deserved significant recognition for their achievements, not only in domestic competition but also in Europe. He highlighted their ability to remain competitive deep into the Champions League and suggested that their overall performances made several of their players worthy candidates for the individual prize.

The Manchester United captain specifically praised the way Arsenal had performed on the biggest stages. Their European campaign, in particular, stood out to him, with Fernandes believing that their ability to remain in contention until the latter stages demonstrated their quality and consistency.

Despite voting for an Arsenal player, Fernandes ultimately emerged as the winner himself. His triumph completed a remarkable individual season and added another major honour to his growing collection of personal achievements.

The midfielder admitted that the 2025-26 campaign had been particularly special from an individual perspective. However, he was keen to emphasise that his success was closely connected to the contribution of his teammates and the wider Manchester United squad.

One of the defining features of Fernandes’ season was his record-breaking creativity. He finished the Premier League campaign with 21 assists, surpassing the previous record of 20 jointly held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

Interestingly, Fernandes admitted that he did not spend much time thinking about breaking the record during the early stages of the season. It was only when the number of assists began attracting increasing attention that he started to realise how close he was to making history.

As the record came within reach, the achievement naturally became more prominent in his mind. However, Fernandes stressed that his teammates, particularly the forwards benefiting from his passes, played an important part in allowing him to reach the landmark.

For Fernandes, an assist is meaningful because it ultimately leads to a goal for his team. He explained that he takes satisfaction from creating opportunities for his teammates because every successful assist contributes directly to Manchester United’s attacking output.

The midfielder also rejected the idea that football should be viewed purely through the lens of individual statistics. Unlike an individual sport such as tennis, football is fundamentally a team game, with players competing for their clubs, teammates and supporters.

Fernandes therefore sees his individual awards as recognition of his contribution to a collective effort rather than something achieved entirely on his own. He believes that the most rewarding aspect of his performances is helping Manchester United score goals and win matches.

The captain also spoke about the responsibility that comes with being one of the club’s most important players. He acknowledged that carrying such expectations is not always easy, particularly at a club with the size and history of Manchester United.

Nevertheless, Fernandes argued that having pressure is preferable to having no expectations at all. The responsibility can be demanding, but he believes it also provides motivation and gives players the opportunity to demonstrate their ability on the biggest stage.

His PFA victory was therefore a reflection not only of his individual statistics but also of the leadership role he played throughout the season. As United captain, Fernandes was expected to influence games creatively while also setting the standard for the rest of the squad.

The award also capped a remarkable run of individual recognition for the Portugal international. His record-breaking assist tally and consistent performances had already established him as one of the standout players in the Premier League.

However, Fernandes’ attention quickly turned back towards Manchester United’s immediate priorities after the ceremony. The club had suffered a disappointing start to the new campaign, losing 2-0 away to newly promoted Hull.

The defeat meant United were already three points behind their intended target after the opening weekend. Fernandes acknowledged the setback but insisted that the team now had an opportunity to respond in their next fixture.

United were scheduled to return to Old Trafford to face another newly promoted side, Ipswich Town. Fernandes made it clear that victory was the objective and that the squad needed to recover the points they had dropped in the opening match.

For a player who had just been recognised as the best by his fellow professionals, Fernandes was therefore already shifting his focus away from personal success and towards the team’s next challenge.

His comments underline the contrast between individual recognition and the demands of playing for Manchester United. While winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award represented a major personal achievement, Fernandes knows that his reputation and success ultimately depend on what he can contribute to the club.

His decision to vote for an Arsenal player also demonstrated the respect he has for high-level opponents. Rather than simply choosing a teammate or another familiar figure, Fernandes acknowledged the quality of a rival who had impressed him throughout the campaign.

Yet the fact that he eventually won the award himself made the story even more intriguing. Fernandes effectively believed that an Arsenal player deserved his vote while fellow professionals decided that the Manchester United captain was the standout performer of the season.

That recognition is particularly significant because the PFA award is voted for by footballers themselves. The result therefore represents an endorsement from players who understand the demands of competing at the highest level and have experienced Fernandes’ influence directly on the pitch.

With 21 assists, Champions League qualification and another major individual honour to his name, Fernandes finished the 2025-26 season as one of the Premier League’s most influential players.

His comments also demonstrate that, despite receiving widespread individual praise, he remains conscious of the importance of teamwork. For Fernandes, personal awards may provide satisfaction, but the ultimate objective remains helping Manchester United succeed.

The PFA award may have celebrated his individual brilliance, but Fernandes’ own words suggest that he values the collective achievements of his team just as highly. After an extraordinary season, the United captain will now be hoping that his personal success can translate into even greater results for the club in the campaign ahead.