MANCHESTER, England – Bruno Fernandes etched his name into Premier League history as Manchester United secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford to lock down a third-place finish in the league.
Okay News reports that the high-scoring affair on Sunday, May 17, 2026, became an unforgettable milestone for the Manchester United captain. In the 75th minute, Fernandes zipped a fierce cross into the six-yard box for Bryan Mbeumo to tap home, registering his 20th assist of the Premier League season. The spectacular feat pulls the Portuguese playmaker level with the all-time single-season assist record held jointly by Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry.
“I got to 20 today… Let’s see, we have one more game,” an ecstatic Fernandes stated during his post-match interview with Sky Sports. “I want collective awards more than anything… But if I don’t [play the final match], I am already happy because it is the most assists I have got in the Premier League.”
Michael Carrick’s revamped starting lineup paid off early when Luke Shaw fired the hosts ahead. However, the match exploded into life after the interval. Forest equalizer came through a header from Morato, courtesy of a delicious cross from Elliot Anderson. United responded quickly with a highly controversial goal from Matheus Cunha; despite an on-field review showing a potential handball by Mbeumo in the build-up, referee Michael Salisbury stuck with his original decision, prompting heavy criticism from pundits online.
After Fernandes set up Mbeumo for United’s third, Forest refused to back down. Anderson turned provider again in the 78th minute, delivering a sumptuous cross that Morgan Gibbs-White prodded home with expert technique to narrow the gap to 3-2. A frantic, end-to-end finish followed—including an emotional, tearful standing ovation for Casemiro as he bowed out of Old Trafford for the final time—but United’s backline held firm through eight minutes of stoppage time to preserve the win.
