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BRUNO FERNANDES

Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes
PORTUGAL · POR · ATTACKING MIDFIELDER · #8
8 SEP 1994 · Novara · Udinese · Sampdoria · Sporting CP · Manchester United
Mini Rui CostaThe Maradona of Novara
PORTUGAL · #8

🌎 WORLD CUP RECORD

0
TITLES
6
MATCHES
2
GOALS
YEARHOSTAPPSGOALSRESULT
2018Russia20 ROUND OF 16
2022Qatar42 QUARTER-FINAL
█ ATTRIBUTES
PACE 67
SHOOTING 83
PASSING 89
DRIBBLING 83
DEFENDING 65
PHYSICAL 75

⚡ DEFINING MOMENTS

▲ 2018 · A bit-part debut in Russia
Twenty-three and newly arrived on the bigger stage, Fernandes started Portugal's breathless 3-3 draw with Spain and came off the bench against Morocco. He sat out the Round of 16 defeat to Uruguay — two appearances, no goals, and a tournament watched mostly from the periphery while Ronaldo took the headlines.
▲ 2022 · Two against Uruguay
By Qatar he was the engine of the side. Against Uruguay in Lusail he supplied a cross that drifted in untouched — long credited to Ronaldo before the ball-makers ruled otherwise — then settled matters from the penalty spot in stoppage time. Both of his World Cup goals arrived in that single night.
▲ 2022 · The wall in Doha
Rested for the dead-rubber loss to South Korea, he returned to drive a 6-1 dismantling of Switzerland. Then came Morocco, and a Portugal side that could not break a disciplined defence. They lost 1-0 and went out in the last eight; Fernandes left Qatar with the most goal involvements of any Portugal player at the tournament and nothing to show in silver.

📜 CAREER TIMELINE

2012
Leaves Portugal as a teenager to join Italian side Novara.
2013
Moves to Udinese, sharpening his game in Serie A.
2017
Returns home to Sporting CP and becomes one of Europe's most prolific midfielders for goals.
2018
Makes his World Cup bow in Russia, two appearances as Portugal exit in the Round of 16.
2020
Signs for Manchester United in January and transforms their season almost overnight.
2022
Drives Portugal to the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar, scoring twice against Uruguay.
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█ THE ALMANAC SPEAKS
PROF. INKSWORTH:

A midfielder who bends matches to his will at club level, yet whose World Cup ledger reads thinner than his reputation: six appearances, two goals, both in one Lusail evening, and two early exits. In 2018 he was a passenger; in 2022 the driving force of a side undone by Morocco's discipline. The finals have given him a stage but not, so far, a story to keep.

  • Both of his World Cup goals came in the same match — the 2-0 win over Uruguay in 2022.
  • He wears the number 8 for both Portugal and Manchester United, a nod to being born on the eighth of the month.
  • He was directly involved in four of Portugal's six goals across the 2022 group stage, more than any of his team-mates.
Ready.
Zone: Historical