Bruno Fernandes nominated for 2026 Ballon d’Or

Bruno Fernandes is set to be named among the nominees for the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or.

According to Sam C on X, the Manchester United captain will feature on the 30-man shortlist for football’s most prestigious individual award.

The full list of nominees is officially scheduled to be revealed tomorrow, September 8.

Fernandes’ inclusion would see the United midfielder enter the running for the 70th Ballon d’Or, with the winner set to be crowned in London on October 26.

Fernandes’ expected nomination comes after a remarkable 2025/26 campaign in which he once again carried enormous creative responsibility for United.

The Portuguese midfielder recorded nine Premier League goals and broke the competition’s all-time assists record on the final day against Brighton.

Recognition followed.

Fernandes was named the FWA Footballer of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season before completing a stunning individual treble.

In August, he became the first United player since Wayne Rooney in 2010 to win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.

The Ballon d’Or, however, occupies another level entirely.

United have a special relationship with the famous golden trophy.

Only four players have won it while representing the club: Denis Law in 1964, Sir Bobby Charlton in 1966, George Best in 1968 and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008.

Remarkably, Law, Charlton and Best all won the award within five years while forming United’s legendary Holy Trinity.

Ronaldo then ended the club’s 40-year wait after his extraordinary 2007/08 season, when United won the Premier League and Champions League.

No United player has lifted it since.

Simply making the 30-man field would therefore place Fernandes alongside some illustrious company, although the United captain will face fierce competition to actually take home the prize.

For a player who has spent much of his Old Trafford career shouldering the burden when United needed inspiration, his place among football’s elite would be fitting recognition.