Paul Pogba believes Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has the quality to finish among the top three in the Ballon d’Or voting if he played for a club competing regularly for the Premier League and Champions League titles. Pogba’s assessment highlights the contrast between Fernandes’ individual production and Manchester United’s continuing difficulty competing at the highest level.
Fernandes was recently named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year after an outstanding 2025–26 campaign. He produced nine Premier League goals and 21 assists, including the highest assist total in the competition’s history. His performances also earned recognition from his fellow professionals, with the Portugal international winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.
The midfielder has continued to carry United’s attacking responsibility this season. He created 29 big chances during the opening stages of the campaign and remains the team’s principal source of final passes, set-piece quality and attacking direction. His recent hat-trick in the 5–2 victory over Ipswich Town further strengthened the argument that he belongs among the Premier League’s elite performers.
Pogba’s argument is not that Fernandes lacks individual quality, but that Manchester United’s collective position limits his recognition. Ballon d’Or voting is often influenced by league titles, Champions League success and performances in decisive knockout matches. Fernandes has won domestic cups since arriving at Old Trafford in 2020, but he has yet to win either the Premier League or the Champions League.
That lack of major silverware has made it more difficult for Fernandes to challenge players at clubs that consistently reach the final stages of European competition. Playing for a dominant side such as Manchester City, Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain would give him more opportunities to compete for the trophies that typically shape individual awards.
Fernandes himself has played down the importance of personal recognition. He has argued that trophy counts do not automatically determine which player is better and that the world’s best footballer does not always win the Ballon d’Or. His position reflects the tension between individual performance and team achievement that has followed him throughout his United career.
Pogba also used the discussion to reflect on his own second spell at Manchester United. The former France international described the pressure created by his world-record transfer fee and the difficulty of operating without a clearly defined tactical role. He believes positional consistency is essential for midfielders, particularly at the highest level, where small changes in responsibility can affect a player’s entire performance.
Pogba developed within United’s academy alongside Ravel Morrison and learned from figures such as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand. His career later took him through midfield systems shaped by Andrea Pirlo, N’Golo Kanté and Antonio Conte, while his international career reached its peak when France won the 2018 World Cup alongside Kylian Mbappé.
He has also spoken about the personal difficulties that affected his career, including family problems and the emotional strain of watching matches while unavailable to play. His reflections on José Mourinho and the media attention surrounding him have reinforced his belief that players need a stable tactical environment and a clear role.
For Fernandes, the route to the Ballon d’Or podium may therefore depend as much on Manchester United’s progress as on his own numbers. His creativity, leadership and consistency already place him among the Premier League’s most influential players. If United can build a team capable of challenging for major honours, Pogba believes their captain could finally receive recognition on football’s biggest individual stage.
