Bruno Fernandes facts for kids

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Bruno Fernandes

Fernandes with Portugal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes
Date of birth	(1994-09-08) 8 September 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth	Maia, Portugal
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Manchester United
Number	8
Youth career
2002–2004	Infesta
2004–2012	Boavista
2005–2010	→ Pasteleira (loan)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2013	Novara	23	(4)
2013–2016	Udinese	86	(10)
2016–2017	Sampdoria	33	(5)
2017–2020	Sporting CP	83	(39)
2020–	Manchester United	195	(62)
International career‡
2012	Portugal U19	2	(0)
2014	Portugal U20	5	(1)
2014–2017	Portugal U21	17	(6)
2016	Portugal U23	4	(0)
2017–	Portugal	80	(25)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Portugal UEFA Nations League Winner 2019 Portugal Winner 2025 Germany
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:28, 25 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:52, 8 June 2025 (UTC)

Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes (born 8 September 1994) is a professional footballer from Portugal. He plays as a midfielder for the English club Manchester United, where he is the captain. He also plays for the Portugal national team.

Bruno Fernandes started his career in Italy with Novara in 2012. He then moved to Udinese in 2013 and later to Sampdoria in 2016. After five years in Italy, he joined Sporting CP in Portugal in 2017.

At Sporting CP, he won the Taça da Liga twice and the Taça de Portugal. He was named the best player in the Primeira Liga for two seasons in a row. In the 2018–19 season, he scored 33 goals in all competitions. This made him the highest-scoring midfielder in Europe for a single season.

In January 2020, Fernandes joined Manchester United. He quickly became a key player for the club. He has played over 250 games for them. With Manchester United, he has won the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. He also helped the team reach the UEFA Europa League final in 2021 and 2025, and the FA Cup final in 2023. He was the top scorer in the UEFA Europa League in 2019–20 and 2024–25.

Bruno Fernandes also played for Portugal's youth teams before joining the senior national team in 2017. He has played in the FIFA World Cup (2018, 2022) and the UEFA European Championship (2020, 2024). He won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal in 2019 and 2025.

Early Life and Youth Career

Bruno Fernandes was born in Maia, Portugal. When he was a child, he supported Boavista and Manchester United. He often played football on the streets with his older brother, Ricardo, who also became a professional player.

His father, who lived in Switzerland, wanted Bruno to move there. However, Bruno chose to stay in Portugal because he preferred the level of football there.

Starting Football Young

Fernandes began his youth career at a local club called Infesta. He was offered a spot at Porto's academy, but he chose to join their rivals, Boavista. Boavista offered him transport to training, which was helpful for his parents.

He spent most of his youth career at Boavista. He started as a centre-back but changed to an attacking midfielder when he was 15. This change happened after he was on loan at Pasteleira.

Club Career Highlights

Time in Italy

Novara (2012–2013)

On 27 August 2012, Bruno Fernandes moved to Novara in Italy. At first, he found it hard to settle in. He missed home and struggled to learn Italian.

Once his girlfriend moved to Italy, he quickly learned the language. He became known as the "Maradona of Novara" and the "Mini Rui Costa". After only a few weeks with the youth teams, he joined the first team. He played in more than half of the league games in the 2012–13 season.

Udinese and Sampdoria (2013–2017)

In the summer of 2013, big Italian clubs like Inter Milan and Juventus wanted to sign him. But Fernandes chose to join Udinese. They promised him more chances to play in the first team.

He made his debut in Serie A on 3 November. He scored his first league goal on 7 December against Napoli.

On 16 August 2016, Fernandes moved to Sampdoria. He played his first league game for them twelve days later. He scored his first goal for Sampdoria on 26 September. He scored five goals in 33 Serie A games that season.

Sporting CP Success

Becoming Player of the Year (2017–2018)

On 27 June 2017, Fernandes joined Sporting CP in Portugal. He signed a five-year contract. He made his debut for the club on 6 August. He scored four goals in his first five league games.

His first game in the UEFA Champions League group stage was on 12 September. He scored a goal in a 3–2 win against Olympiacos. He ended his first season with 16 goals and 20 assists. He was named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year and was the LPFP Primeira Liga Player of the Year.

On 15 May 2018, Fernandes and some teammates were attacked by fans at the club's training ground. This happened after the team finished third in the league. Despite this, they played in the Taça de Portugal final, but lost. Fernandes was again named the Primeira Liga Player of the Year on 6 July. He then signed a new contract with Sporting.

Europe's Top-Scoring Midfielder (2018–2020)

Fernandes scored his 23rd goal of the 2018–19 season on 3 March 2019. This broke a club record for goals by a midfielder in a season. On 5 May, he scored three goals in one game. This made him the highest-scoring Portuguese midfielder ever in a single season, with 31 goals.

He scored his 33rd and final goal of the season on 25 May 2019. This was during Sporting's win against Porto in the Taça de Portugal final. He was named Primeira Liga Player of the Year for the second year in a row.

He started the 2019–20 season well, scoring seven goals in his first 10 games. On 28 November, he scored twice and assisted two goals in a 4–0 win over PSV Eindhoven. This helped Sporting reach the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League.

Manchester United Journey

Europa League Top Scorer (2019–2020)

On 29 January 2020, Manchester United announced they had agreed to sign Fernandes. The transfer was completed the next day. He signed a five-and-a-half-year contract.

He made his debut on 1 February in a goalless draw. On 17 February, he provided an assist in a 2–0 win against Chelsea. He scored his first goal for Manchester United on 23 February from a penalty kick. His first European goal for the club came in the Europa League against Club Brugge.

On 16 March, Fernandes was voted the Premier League Player of the Month for February. He scored his first two goals in one game for the club on 30 June. He won multiple awards for his performances in June. He was the first player to win both Premier League Player of the Month and Goal of the Month at the same time. In September, he won Manchester United's Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award.

Individual Success and Europa League Final (2020–2021)

On 26 September, Fernandes scored his first goal of the 2020–21 season. It was a very late goal in a 3–2 win against Brighton. On 7 November, he scored two goals and assisted another against Everton.

He was named Premier League Player of the Month for November and again for December. This made him the first player to win the award four times in one year. He scored one goal and made two assists in United's 9–0 win against Southampton on 2 February 2021. He finished the league season with 18 goals and 12 assists.

In April, Fernandes spoke out against the idea of a European Super League. He said that "Dreams can't be [bought]." Manchester United later withdrew from the Super League. On 29 April, he scored twice and assisted two goals in a 6–2 win against Roma in the Europa League semi-finals. On 18 May, he won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for the second season in a row. On 26 May, Manchester United lost the Europa League Final on penalties, even though Fernandes scored his penalty.

Champions League Assists (2021–2022)

Fernandes playing for Manchester United against Leeds United during the 2021–22 season

On 14 August, Fernandes scored three goals in the first game of the Premier League season. This was a 5–1 win against Leeds United. He later missed a penalty against Aston Villa and apologized on social media. On 23 November, he assisted a goal in a 2–0 win against Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League. This helped his team qualify for the next round. He became the first player to assist in five Champions League games in a row for an English club. On 2 December, Fernandes played his 100th game for the club.

On 1 April 2022, Fernandes signed a new contract with Manchester United until June 2026. On 2 May, he scored his 50th goal for the club. His performances were not as strong this season, and the club finished in sixth place. However, Fernandes was the top assist provider in the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League.

Ending the Trophy Drought (2022–2023)

On 1 July 2022, Manchester United changed Fernandes' squad number from 18 to 8. This was his preferred number and a tribute to his birth date and his father. He scored his first goal of the season on 27 August.

On 3 January 2023, Fernandes played his 150th game for the club. Two weeks later, he helped United win 2–1 against Manchester City in the Manchester derby. On 18 January, he scored against Crystal Palace, reaching 100 goal contributions for the club. On 26 February, Fernandes started in the 2023 EFL Cup final. Manchester United beat Newcastle United 2–0, and he won his first trophy with the club.

Fernandes created the most chances (119) in the 2022–23 Premier League. United finished third in the Premier League, qualifying for the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League. In the 2023 FA Cup final, Fernandes scored a penalty, but United lost 2–1 to Manchester City.

Club Captain and FA Cup Win (2023–Present)

On 20 July 2023, Fernandes was named the new club captain. On 26 August, he scored his first goal of the season and assisted another. The team had a tough start to the season, especially in the UEFA Champions League, where they finished last in their group. Fernandes' leadership was discussed, as he played the most minutes of any player in world football between September 2022 and 2023.

In January 2024, Fernandes received a large contract offer from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal. However, he turned down the offer, saying he was "happy" and "focused on Man United."

On 7 April 2024, Fernandes scored his 50th Premier League goal from a long distance. This was in a 2–2 draw against Liverpool. He was named Manchester United Player of the Month for April. On 23 May, he won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for the third time. In the 2024 FA Cup final against Manchester City, Fernandes assisted a goal in a 2–1 win. This was his second trophy with the club and his first as captain.

On 29 September, Fernandes received a red card against Tottenham Hotspur. However, the red card was later removed by the Football Association. On 3 October, he received another red card in a Europa League game. He became the first Manchester United player to be sent off in two games in a row since 1994. On 11 November, he played his 250th game for the club. On 26 December, he received his third red card of the season. On 13 March, Fernandes scored three goals against Real Sociedad in the Europa League. His performances in March earned him his fifth Premier League Player of the Month award.

On 20 June 2025, Fernandes was nominated for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.

International Career

Youth Level (2012–2017)

Fernandes playing for Portugal at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Bruno Fernandes played for the Portugal under-20s in 2014. He scored a goal against Chile.

He represented Portugal at under-19, under-20, under-21, and under-23 levels. He played a total of 28 games for these youth teams. He was made captain of the under-21 team. He helped the under-21 team qualify for the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. In June, he scored a goal against Serbia in that tournament.

Fernandes also played for Portugal in the 2016 Summer Olympics. He started every game as the team reached the quarter-finals.

Senior and World Cup Debuts (2017–2018)

Fernandes was first called up to the senior Portugal team on 28 August 2017. He made his full debut on 10 November 2017 in a friendly win against Saudi Arabia.

He was chosen for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He scored his first goal for the senior team on 7 June in a warm-up match. His first World Cup game was on 15 June against Spain. Portugal was knocked out in the last 16 by Uruguay.

Nations League Title and Later Challenges (2018–2021)

Fernandes played in the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League group stage. He helped Portugal qualify for the first-ever Nations League Finals in June 2019. Portugal won the trophy by beating the Netherlands 1–0. Fernandes was named in the "Team of the Tournament."

He was part of Portugal's squad for the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament. He played in all games, but Portugal was knocked out in the round of 16. Fernandes faced some criticism for his performances during the tournament.

National Team Breakthrough (2022–Present)

On 29 March 2022, Fernandes scored both goals in Portugal's 2–0 win over North Macedonia. This win secured Portugal's spot in the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Fernandes after scoring against Uruguay at the 2022 FIFA World Cup

In October, he was included in Portugal's final squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. On 25 November, Fernandes provided two assists in Portugal's 3–2 win against Ghana. Three days later, he scored both goals in a 2–0 victory over Uruguay, which helped Portugal qualify for the knockout stages. Portugal was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Morocco. Fernandes finished the tournament as one of the top assisters with three assists.

His strong form continued in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers. He provided two assists and scored two goals against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 17 June. On his 29th birthday, 8 September, Fernandes scored the only goal in a win over Slovakia. On 11 September, he scored a goal and provided three assists in a 9–0 win against Luxembourg. This was Portugal's biggest win in international history. Fernandes finished the qualifying campaign as the top assister with eight assists. Portugal qualified for Euro 2024 quickly, setting a new national record of ten wins in a row.

On 21 May 2024, he was selected for the 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024. On 22 June, Fernandes scored Portugal's third goal in a 3–0 win against Turkey, securing their spot in the knockout phase. In the round of 16, he played the full game and scored in the penalty shootout, which Portugal won. Portugal was eliminated in the quarter-finals by France after another penalty shootout.

Player Profile

Style of Play

Bruno Fernandes is an attacking midfielder. He is a very active player who can move all over the field. He is known for taking risks with his passes, but he also works hard to win the ball back.

He scores many goals from midfield. He often shoots from outside the penalty area. He is also very good at taking free-kicks and penalties. He moves well without the ball, often finding space in attack or dropping deep to get the ball. He can also play as a deeper central midfielder or a second striker. At Manchester United, he has also played on the right wing because of his good crossing ability.

What People Say About Him

Many football experts and players have praised Bruno Fernandes. Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, said that Bruno's "creativity is one of the best I've ever seen." Kevin De Bruyne, another top midfielder, called him a "creative machine."

Former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand said Fernandes "knows how to create chances" and has "imagination, creativity." He also praised his leadership. Former Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjær said Fernandes was a mix of famous players Paul Scholes and Juan Sebastián Verón. Fernandes has also been compared to Frank Lampard because of his goal-scoring from midfield.

However, Fernandes has also faced some criticism for his behavior on the field. Some experts, like Gary Neville and Roy Keane, have said he complains too much to referees and shows frustration. They believe a captain should be calmer. Despite this, his contributions on the field are highly valued.

Goal Celebration

Bruno Fernandes has a special way of celebrating goals. After scoring, he usually covers his ears with both hands. This is a tribute to his daughter, who pretends not to hear him.

Personal Life

When Bruno Fernandes moved to Italy at 18, his childhood sweetheart, Ana Pinho, joined him. They got married in 2015. They have a daughter, born in January 2017, and a son, born in September 2020.

He has tattoos on both arms with the number 8. This number is special because it's his birth date and his father also wore number 8 as a footballer. He also has the letter F for his surname and the number 23, which is a tribute to his debut with the Portugal national team when he was 23.

Fernandes can speak many languages. Besides his native Portuguese, he is fluent in Spanish, English, and Italian. He also speaks some French. His brother, Ricardo, also plays football in England.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Portugal score listed first, score column indicates score after each Fernandes goal.

List of international goals scored by Bruno Fernandes

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	7 June 2018	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal	Algeria	2–0	3–0	Friendly
2	17 November 2019	Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg	Luxembourg	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
3	9 June 2021	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	Israel	1–0	4–0	Friendly
4				4–0
5	4 September 2021	Nagyerdei Stadion, Debrecen, Hungary	Qatar	3–1	3–1	Friendly
6	12 October 2021	Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal	Luxembourg	3–0	5–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
7	29 March 2022	Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal	Macedonia	1–0	2–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
8				2–0
9	24 September 2022	Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic	Czech Republic	2–0	4–0	2022–23 UEFA Nations League A
10	17 November 2022	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	Nigeria	1–0	4–0	Friendly
11				2–0
12	28 November 2022	Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar	Uruguay	1–0	2–0	2022 FIFA World Cup
13				2–0
14	17 June 2023	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal	Bosnia and Herzegovina	2–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
15				3–0
16	8 September 2023	Tehelné pole, Bratislava, Slovakia	Slovakia	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
17	11 September 2023	Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal	Luxembourg	8–0	9–0	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
18	16 October 2023	Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina	Bosnia and Herzegovina	3–0	5–0	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
19	19 November 2023	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	Iceland	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
20	21 March 2024	Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, Guimarães, Portugal	Sweden	3–0	5–2	Friendly
21	4 June 2024	Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal	Finland	3–0	4–2	Friendly
22				4–2
23	22 June 2024	Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany	Turkey	3–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2024
24	8 September 2024	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal	Scotland	1–1	2–1	2024–25 UEFA Nations League A
25	15 November 2024	Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal	Poland	3–0	5–1	2024–25 UEFA Nations League A

Honours

Sporting CP

• Taça de Portugal: 2018–19
• Taça da Liga: 2017–18, 2018–19

Manchester United

• FA Cup: 2023–24; runner-up: 2022–23
• EFL Cup: 2022–23
• UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2020–21, 2024–25

Portugal

• UEFA Nations League: 2018–19, 2024–25

Individual Awards

• SJPF Young Player of the Month: August 2017, September 2017, October/November 2017, February 2018, April 2018
• Primeira Liga Player of the Month: August 2017, September 2017, April 2018, December 2018, February 2019, March 2019, April 2019
• Primeira Liga Goal of the Month: August 2017, September 2017
• Primeira Liga Team of the Year: 2017–18, 2018–19
• LPFP Primeira Liga Player of the Year: 2017–18, 2018–19
• Taça de Portugal Top scorer: 2018–19 (6 goals)
• UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2017–18, 2019–20, 2020–21
• UEFA Europa League Team of the Season: 2024–25
• UEFA Europa League Top scorer: 2019–20, 2024–25
• Sporting CP Footballer of the Year: 2018, 2019
• CNID Footballer of the Year: 2019
• UEFA Nations League Finals Team of the Tournament: 2019
• PFA Fans' Premier League Player of the Month: February 2020, June/July 2020
• PFA Team of the Year: 2020–21 Premier League
• Premier League Player of the Month: February 2020, June 2020, November 2020, December 2020, March 2025
• Premier League Goal of the Month: June 2020, February 2021, September 2023
• Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2023–24, 2024–25
• Manchester United Players' Player of the Year: 2024–25
• Manchester United Goal of the Season: 2020–21 (vs. Everton, 6 February 2021)
• FSA Men's Player of the Year Award: 2020
• ESM Team of the Year: 2020–21

See also

In Spanish: Bruno Fernandes para niños