Ballon d’Or 2026: Pogba, Lingard name player who deserve award
Former Players Back Fernandes for Ballon d’Or Consideration
Former Manchester United players Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba are advocating for Bruno Fernandes as a contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or. Both players praised Fernandes for his contributions and approachability during their time as teammates from 2020 to 2022.
Since the dismissal of manager Ruben Amorim, Manchester United has seen notable improvement, currently sitting third in the Premier League with 58 points from 33 matches. Central to this resurgence has been Fernandes, who has recorded eight goals and 19 assists in 32 matches across all competitions. At 31 years old, he is just two assists away from tying the record for the most assists in a single Premier League season, a record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Despite Manchester United’s failure to qualify for European competitions this season and challenges in other tournaments, Lingard and Pogba both argue that Fernandes merits consideration for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Lingard told BBC Sport, “His performances at Manchester United this season have been extraordinary. He has to be up there.”
Nevertheless, the likelihood of Fernandes winning the Ballon d’Or this year appears slim. Players such as Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Lamine Yamal, and Kylian Mbappe have made significant strides this season and could be seen as frontrunners.
Pogba remarked that if Fernandes were playing for a top club like Manchester City, he would be a stronger candidate for the prestigious award. Speaking to Rio Ferdinand via BBC Sport, he emphasized, “Bruno Fernandes, in other big clubs, is in the top three Ballon d’or. You put him in Manchester City, he’s in the Ballon d’Or.”
Pogba highlighted Fernandes’s versatility and tenacity, noting, “He’s everywhere on the pitch. He keeps running. He’s smart. He can play two touches, one touch. He can shoot. When you don’t win, we don’t think about you.”
