Man Utd captain moves onto 140 combined goals and assists in 11 matches fewer than former team-mate
Bruno Fernandes has reached another impressive milestone after moving level with Cristiano Ronaldo for Premier League goal involvements during Manchester United’s win against Brentford on Monday.
The Man Utd captain set up Benjamin Sesko to score and double his side’s lead at Old Trafford after Casemiro’s opener.
It was Fernandes’ 140th goal involvement in the competition and ensured he matched his former Man Utd team-mate Ronaldo’s record in 11 matches fewer.
Watch: Fernandes and Ronaldo’s milestone moments
Three-time Premier League winner Ronaldo reached his tally across two spells in Manchester – 2003 to 2009 and 2021 to 2022 – with the latter stint seeing him link up with his Portuguese international team-mate Fernandes at club level for the first time.
Remarkably, Fernandes has registered 70 goals and 70 assists apiece in the Premier League, highlighting his dual ability as both a goal scorer and provider. Ronaldo’s record, meanwhile, was 103 goals, 37 assists.
Watch: Pundits react as Fernandes equals Ronaldo’s record
Fernandes has also become the first Man Utd player to score or assist in seven or more consecutive Premier League appearances since Robin van Persie between November 2012 – January 2013 (10 in a row).
And he is just the third Man Utd player to score or assist in eight or more consecutive Premier League appearances at Old Trafford after Ronaldo between March – November 2008 (10 in a row) and Wayne Rooney between December 2009 – March 2010 (eight in a row).
It is Fernandes’ creativity that has most stood out this season. Fernandes is on course to win the Coca-Cola Golden Playmaker award, given to the player with the most assists, having registered 19 so far, nine more than anyone else.
A Premier League record is well within his reach: Fernandes only requires two more assists from United’s final four fixtures to register more assists than any other player in a Premier League campaign.
Thierry Henry (20 assists in 2002/03) and Kevin De Bruyne (20 in 2019/20) are the current joint-record holders.
