PFA Awards 2026: Top Six Shortlists Announced

The Professional Footballers’ Association has released the Top Six finalists for the 2025/26 Men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year Award, reflecting performances in England’s top division. Three players from Arsenal’s Premier League‑winning squad make up half of the shortlist, highlighting their influence in one of the most competitive seasons in Premier League history.

Arsenal’s Declan Rice attracted acclaim for his commanding midfield presence, linking defence and attack with consistent performances. His teammate Gabriel Magalhaes contributed defensively throughout the campaign, and David Raya played a crucial role in Arsenal keeping a high number of clean sheets.

Joining the Gunners contingent are Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United, who set a new Premier League assist record and earned multiple player‑of‑the‑year accolades, and Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland from Manchester City, with Haaland claiming his third Premier League Golden Boot after scoring 27 goals.

Men’s Top Six Nominees (2025/26)

The six players on the shortlist for the award, as voted by their fellow professionals, are:
Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal)
David Raya (Arsenal)
Declan Rice (Arsenal)

This shortlist underlines not just individual brilliance but also how influential team performance — such as Arsenal’s title success — plays into peer voting.

How the PFA Award Works

The PFA Players’ Player of the Year is one of English football’s most prestigious individual honours. Players across the league vote for the peers they feel had the most outstanding seasons, making this award distinct because it reflects the respect and recognition of fellow professionals.

Rather than relying solely on statistics, the award combines on‑field impact, consistency and influence across a full season. For example, Haaland’s scoring record and Fernandes’s creativity and leadership have both been major talking points among pundits, supporters and now players themselves.

Why These Nominations Matter

Being shortlisted speaks volumes about a player’s consistency and influence. A PFA nomination tells you that those who compete against and alongside these players believe they were among the best all season. Many winners have gone on to further national team success, club honours and global recognition, connecting individual performance with lasting career impact.

The award will be presented at the PFA Awards Ceremony later in August, where the winner — and other award recipients — will be announced.