Career Timeline of Bruno Fernandes: Major Achievements and Milestones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Bruno Fernandes made an impact.

Bruno Fernandes is a Portuguese professional footballer renowned for his role as a midfielder. He currently captains Manchester United in the Premier League and also represents the Portugal national team. Known for his playmaking abilities, goal-scoring record, and leadership qualities, Fernandes has become a key player for both club and country since his arrival at Manchester United in January 2020. He is celebrated for his creativity, passing range, and penalty-taking prowess, making him a vital asset in midfield. His impact on Manchester United was immediate, contributing significantly to their improved performance.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

August 2012: Joined Novara in Italy

On August 27, 2012, Bruno Fernandes joined Novara in Italy. He initially struggled with homesickness and learning Italian but settled after his girlfriend moved to Italy, earning nicknames like "Maradona of Novara" and "Mini Rui Costa". He quickly progressed to the first team in Serie B, contributing to their fifth-place finish and promotion play-offs in the 2012-13 season.

2013: Move to Udinese

In 2013, Bruno Fernandes moved from Novara to Serie A side Udinese after spending a short time at Novara.

2014: Toulon Tournament

In 2014, Bruno Fernandes participated in the Toulon Tournament with the Portugal under-20s, playing four matches, scoring against Chile in a group stage match, and helping Portugal to a third-place finish.

August 2016: Loan Move to Sampdoria

On August 16, 2016, Bruno Fernandes moved to Sampdoria on loan with an obligation to be signed permanently. He made his league debut twelve days later and scored his first goal for the team on September 26 against Cagliari. During the campaign, he scored five goals in 33 Serie A appearances.

2016: Representation at the Summer Olympics

In 2016, Bruno Fernandes represented Portugal at the Summer Olympics.

2016: Summer Olympics

In 2016, Bruno Fernandes represented Portugal in the Summer Olympics, starting every game as the team reached the quarter-finals.

June 2017: Joined Sporting CP

On June 27, 2017, after returning from the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Bruno Fernandes joined Sporting CP on a five years deal for a reported fee of €8.5 million plus bonuses.

August 2017: First Call-up for Portugal National Team

On 28 August 2017, Bruno Fernandes was first called up to the Portugal national team, replacing the injured Pizzi for World Cup qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Hungary.

November 2017: First Full Cap for Portugal

On 10 November 2017, Bruno Fernandes won his first full cap for Portugal, replacing Manuel Fernandes for the last 34 minutes of a 3–0 friendly win over Saudi Arabia in Viseu.

2017: Senior International Debut

In 2017, Bruno Fernandes made his senior international debut for Portugal.

2017: Signing with Sporting CP

In 2017, Bruno Fernandes signed with Sporting CP after playing for five years in Italy.

2017: UEFA European Under-21 Championship

In June 2017, Bruno Fernandes participated in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, aiding Portugal to a group stage finish and scoring a goal against Serbia in the opening match.

2018: Selection for the FIFA World Cup

In 2018, Bruno Fernandes was chosen for Portugal's squad for the FIFA World Cup.

2018: 2018 FIFA World Cup

In 2018, Bruno Fernandes was selected for the FIFA World Cup in Russia, scoring his first goal in a warm-up match against Algeria. He played in the group stage draw against Spain and was later eliminated in the last 16 after a defeat to Uruguay.

2018: Taça da Liga Win and Primeira Liga Accolades

In 2018, Bruno Fernandes won the Taça da Liga with Sporting CP. He was also named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year and Primeira Liga Player of the Year.

May 2019: Highest-Scoring Portuguese Midfielder in a Single Season

On May 5, 2019, Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick against Belenenses SAD, becoming the highest-scoring Portuguese midfielder in a single season of all time, with 31 goals to his name. He scored his 33rd and final goal of the season on May 25, 2019, during Sporting's victory against Porto in the Taça de Portugal final. For his performances in the 2018–19 season, he was named Primeira Liga Player of the Year for the second successive year.

June 2019: UEFA Nations League Finals Win

In June 2019, Bruno Fernandes played both matches as Portugal defeated the Netherlands 1–0 in Porto to win the UEFA Nations League Finals. He was also named in the "Team of the Tournament" for his performances.

2019: Scoring Streak and Europa League Qualification

In 2019, Bruno Fernandes scored seven goals in his first 10 appearances of the 2019-20 season, including a run of scoring in six consecutive appearances. On November 28, he scored twice and assisted the other two goals in a 4–0 victory over PSV Eindhoven, securing Sporting's qualification to the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League.

2019: Back-to-back Taça da Liga and Record-Breaking Season

In 2019, Bruno Fernandes secured his second consecutive Taça da Liga title and Taça de Portugal with Sporting CP. During the 2018-19 season, he set a record by scoring 33 goals in all competitions, marking him as the highest-scoring Portuguese midfielder and the highest-scoring midfielder in Europe for that single season.

2019: UEFA Nations League Finals Victory

In 2019, Bruno Fernandes was part of Portugal's squad that won the UEFA Nations League Finals on home soil. He was also named to the Team of the Tournament.

January 2020: Transfer to Manchester United

In January 2020, Bruno Fernandes signed with Manchester United for an initial fee of €55 million (£47 million), which was the second-highest fee for a Portuguese player leaving the domestic league at the time.

January 2020: Agreement for Transfer to Manchester United

On January 29, 2020, Manchester United confirmed they had reached an agreement with Sporting for the transfer of Bruno Fernandes. The transfer was officially completed the following day on January 30, 2020, with Fernandes signing a five-and-a-half-year contract.

2020: UEFA European Championship Selection

In 2020, Bruno Fernandes was selected for Portugal's squad for the UEFA European Championship.

2020: UEFA Euro 2020 Tournament

In 2020, Bruno Fernandes was selected for the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament, appearing in all games of Portugal's round of 16 exit. He faced criticism for struggling to replicate his club form for Portugal and was dropped from the starting lineup for the final group stage match.

February 2021: Contribution to Record-Equalling Win Against Southampton

On February 2, 2021, Bruno Fernandes scored one goal and made two assists in Manchester United's Premier League record-equalling 9–0 home win against Southampton. He finished third in terms of top goalscorers in the league with 18 goals and second among the top assist providers with 12.

2021: Top Assist Provider in the UEFA Champions League

In the 2021-2022 season, Bruno Fernandes was the top assist provider in the UEFA Champions League, with seven assists in total.

March 2022: World Cup Qualification

On 29 March 2022, Bruno Fernandes scored both goals in Portugal's 2–0 win over North Macedonia in the final of the World Cup qualification play-offs, securing Portugal's qualification for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

April 2022: Signed New Contract with Manchester United

On April 1, 2022, Bruno Fernandes signed a new contract which would keep him at Manchester United until June 2026, with the option of a further year.

September 2022: Start Date of most minutes played

Bruno Fernandes' captaincy came under scrutiny, despite being the football player who played the most minutes in world football, with 72 games and 6,666 minutes dating from 15 September 2022 to 2023.

2022: 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar

In 2022, Bruno Fernandes participated in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, providing two assists in a group stage win against Ghana and scoring both of Portugal's goals in a victory over Uruguay. He finished the tournament as the joint-top assister with three assists despite Portugal's elimination in the quarter-finals.

2022: FIFA World Cup Selection

In 2022, Bruno Fernandes was chosen in Portugal's squads for the FIFA World Cup.

January 2023: 150th Appearance and Instrumental Role in Manchester Derby Win

In January 2023, Bruno Fernandes marked his 150th appearance for Manchester United and played a key role in United's 2-1 comeback win over Manchester City, scoring a goal that was part of the build-up play for United's controversial equaliser. On January 18, 2023, Fernandes scored in a 1–1 away draw to Crystal Palace, registering his 100th goal contribution for the club.

2023: Premier League and FA Cup Performance

In 2023, Bruno Fernandes helped United qualify for the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League after securing a third-place finish in the Premier League. In the 2023 FA Cup final, Fernandes equalized for United through a penalty in an eventual 2–1 defeat to local rivals Manchester City.

2023: Named as Club Captain

In 2023, Bruno Fernandes was named as Harry Maguire's replacement as club captain on July 20. On August 26, 2023, Fernandes scored his first goal of the season, netting a penalty, and also assisting Casemiro in a 3–2 comeback win over Nottingham Forest.

January 2024: Contract Offer from Al-Hilal

In January 2024, during the winter transfer window, Bruno Fernandes received a contract offer worth €100 million from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal. However, he declined the offer, stating he was focused on Manchester United.

May 2024: Selection for UEFA Euro 2024 Squad

On 21 May 2024, Bruno Fernandes was selected in the 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.

2024: UEFA European Championship Selection

In 2024, Bruno Fernandes was chosen in Portugal's squads for the UEFA European Championship.

2024: FA Cup Win

In 2024, during the FA Cup final against Manchester City, Bruno Fernandes assisted Kobbie Mainoo's goal in an eventual 2–1 win for United, winning his second trophy with the club and his first as club captain.

2024: UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifiers

In the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, Bruno Fernandes had a strong showing, highlighted by two assists and a brace against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 3–0 win on 17 June. He contributed significantly to Portugal's qualification for Euro 2024, finishing as the top assister with eight assists, and helping the team achieve a new national record of ten consecutive wins.

June 2026: End date of new contract with Manchester United

Bruno Fernandes signed a new contract with Manchester United on April 1, 2022, which would keep him at Manchester United until June 2026, with the option of a further year.