FOOTBALL
By Animesh Pandey
Posted on May 16, 2026 3:00 am | Updated on May 15, 2026 8:42 pm
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Declan Rice is left disappointed. In a shock decision, the FWA announced midfielder Bruno Fernandes as Footballer of the Year. The Portuguese midfielder pipped his English counterpart by just 28 votes.
How Declan Rice Lost To Bruno Fernandes
The Football Writer’s Association (FWA) announced the Footballer of the Year award. This award is awarded annually to the best player in English football. Many expected Declan Rice to win the award.
Instead, it was Fernandes who was awarded the top honors. The Red Devils midfielder secured 45 percent of the total votes. He outpaced his competitor from The Gunners by 28 votes. As per Flashscore, Fernandes is the first player from the Reds since Wayne Rooney to have won this award. Rooney won the Footballer of the Year for his performance in 2010.
READ MORE: Declan Rice Dismisses Misconceptions, Arsenal News Latest
Why Declan Rice Deserves Better?
Fernandes undoubtedly staked serious claim on the Footballer of the Year award. However, Rice deserved the award too. The 27-year-old midfielder performed when top players were out due to injuries. He ensured that the Gunners stay on top.
Arsenal is currently on top in the Premier League table. The North London club have also qualified for the Champions League final. Rice might get a unique record to his name. He may become the rare player to achieve the double glory of winning both the Premier League and the Champions League.
On the other hand, Fernandes’ individual glory wasn’t enough. The Red Devils under interim manager Michael Carrick suffered early exits in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. However, they performed better in the Premier League. The United team are currently ranked third on the Premier League table.
Arsenal reporter Tom Canton pointed out the contrast in a report. As per Football London, he said,
“He (Rice) has currently played 18 more matches, 1223 more minutes, much helped by the fact his Arsenal side didn’t exit the cup competitions at the first time of asking like United did, losing against Brighton and Grimsby Town in the FA Cup and League Cup respectively. Fernandes was culpable in their performances in those matches.”
Declan Rice’s stats, as per Fotmob:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists
Premier League 35 4 5
EFL Cup 2 0 1
Champions League 12 1 2
Bruno Fernandes’ stats, as per Fotmob:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists
Premier League 33 8 19
EFL Cup 1 0 1
FA Cup 1 0 0
READ MORE: Arsenal injury boost: Declan Rice ‘fully fit’ amid City title race blow
Gameplan For Rice’s Future Campaign
Rice’s consistency on field has been overlooked. The recent snub at FWA awards is a testament. However, if selected for the World Cup squad, the same consistency could be a boon. Rice represented the Irish team in 2018. As per The Guardian, he later switched to England in 2019. Declan Rice **scored**6 goals in 72 appearances overall.
If chosen for the Football World Cup squad, Rice could provide depth to the English midfield. Rice was a part of the 2022 World Cup squad. England lost to France 2-1. France later finished as runners-up in the same edition.
England have improved in their performances since the 2018 World Cup. The English team had entered the semifinals after 28 years. England lost to Croatia by 1-2. France beat Croatia in the final by 4-2. Les Blues won the World Cup after 20 years.
To sum it up, Rice could use this opportunity to prove his credibility. Sometimes, the best players aren’t the ones with the most goals. They can be selfless and equally consistent like Declan Rice too. All it takes is some team effort.
READ MORE: Declan Rice: ‘Not finished’ as Arsenal hit crunch stage
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Animesh Pandey
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