The last Braves game Bobby Cox attended at Truist Park
Atlanta Braves mourn the loss of legendary manager Bobby Cox.
Bruno Fernandes won the Footballer of the Year award, narrowly beating Declan Rice. Arsenal's split votes contributed to Rice's loss despite his strong season.
Split Arsenal votes cost Declan Rice as Bruno Fernandes win Footballer of the Year
Bruno Fernandes has narrowly beaten Declan Rice to the Footballer of the Year award this season after another impressive campaign for Manchester United. Although United have not been competing for any trophies and were long eliminated from contention in multiple competitions, Fernandes has still delivered a strong individual season that has kept him in the spotlight.
Arsenal are expected to secure the Premier League title, with Rice playing a crucial role throughout the campaign. Many had anticipated he could also be in contention for the Ballon d’Or if Arsenal won the Champions League and if he achieved further international success with England at the World Cup. Domestically, he was widely expected to dominate individual awards, although Fernandes’ recent form has shifted opinion.
Fernandes consistent output for United has ensured he remains highly regarded despite the club’s lack of silverware. In contrast, Rice has been central to Arsenal’s title push, leading to widespread expectation that he would collect several individual honours across the season. However, recent performances from Fernandes have been judged as stronger in key moments, prompting renewed support for his recognition.
This shift in perception has led to increased discussion around the award outcomes, with many observers suggesting that form in the closing stages of the campaign has significantly influenced voting trends and final decisions.
Declan Rice lost the Footballer of the Year award due to split votes from Arsenal fans, which favored Bruno Fernandes.
Bruno Fernandes had a strong individual season with Manchester United, maintaining a high profile despite the team's lack of trophy contention.
Declan Rice played a crucial role for Arsenal, contributing significantly to their expected Premier League title win.
Atlanta Braves mourn the loss of legendary manager Bobby Cox.
Analyzing the Bucs' Best and Worst Picks in the 2026 NFL Draft
Haaland emphasizes a focused approach after City's win over Brentford
How the Players Era tournament expansion may improve the Final Four experience
Caitlin Clark sets two all-time WNBA records on a spinning bucket for Indiana Fever!

Marlie Packer's four tries lead England to a Grand Slam decider against Italy!
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Fernandes has now been voted Footballer of the Year, with Rice’s chances affected by Arsenal’s vote being split between several players, including David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes and Bukayo Saka. Supporters of the club distributed their votes across multiple candidates rather than concentrating solely on Rice.
As a result, it is suggested that had Rice been the only Arsenal nominee, he may have secured a decisive victory in the award. The distribution of votes is considered to have played a significant role in the outcome, ultimately allowing Fernandes to edge ahead in a closely contested race.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
ADMIN COMMENT
So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….
You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with usthrough this link…
More Stories / Latest News
Split Arsenal votes cost Declan Rice as Bruno Fernandes win Footballer of the Year
Barcelona wants to ruin Arsenal’s plans for Champions League winners
Arsenal continues to monitor the situation of Man City’s summer signing