Manchester United didn’t take long to hit their stride with Bruno Fernandes, and he made his mark almost instantly. After he scored that incredible assist to Harry Maguire against Chelsea in 2020, he quickly became a fan favorite.
Now, he’s recognized as one of Europe’s top playmakers. This summer, he’ll head to North America with the Portuguese national team, looking to make a name for himself alongside Cristiano Ronaldo as they aim for the prestigious trophy.
Since joining Manchester six years ago, Fernandes has been racking up assists in the Premier League at an astonishing rate. He’s been the league’s top chance creator in four of the last five seasons and seems poised to do it again this year. With 19 assists, he’s just one shy of tying the record set by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. Plus, he’s pretty adept at putting the ball in the net too.
He consistently finds the back of the net both during open play and from the penalty spot, achieving the milestone of over 100 goals for Manchester United by 2025. While he typically plays as a number three in midfield, he has recently returned to his preferred number 10 role. This was evident in his performance against the USMNT during the last international break, where he assisted Francisco Trincão with a clever backheel.
If he continues to operate just behind the forwards, we can anticipate him breaking into the box more often, leading to additional scoring and playmaking opportunities.
Reputation on the international stage
Fernandes made his World Cup debut in 2018 but took on a pivotal role for Portugal in 2022. During the match against Qatar, he netted two goals and provided three assists, helping his team reach the quarterfinals. His efforts secured a win over Uruguay, and his leadership qualities began to shine through.
As Cristiano Ronaldo aged and shifted his style of play, Portugal began to perform better as a cohesive unit without him. This improvement coincided with the rising creativity of Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and several young players. Four years later, Fernandes remains a key figure for Portugal, having scored 28 goals across 87 caps.
Portugal at the World Cup
This World Cup will likely see plenty of discussions about it being the “Last Dance.” While it certainly marks Ronaldo’s final World Cup appearance at 41, it might also represent a significant moment for Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Joao Cancelo, all 31. Like many top national teams, Portugal has undergone consistent player turnover, but there’s a palpable sense of a transition happening now.
