David Beckham’s status as Manchester United’s assist king has officially been taken by Bruno Fernandes.
The global icon held the record for the most assists by a Red Devils player in a single Premier League season with an absurd haul of 15 in the 1999/2000 campaign.
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But incumbent United skipper Fernandes has taken that record with two assists against Aston Villa.
The Portuguese midfielder started the game on 14 assists for Man United in the Premier League this season.
He set up second-half goals for Casemiro and Matheus Cunha to move to 16 assists and surpass Beckham’s total from 26 years ago.
That makes it 23 goals and assists in a United shirt in the Premier League this season.
Most assists for Man United in single season
- Bruno Fernandes – 16 (2025/26)
- David Beckham – 15 (1999/00)
- Nani – 14 (2010/11)
- Antonio Valencia – 13 (2011/12)
- David Beckham – 13 (1997/98)
- Bruno Fernandes – 12 (2020/21)
- Ryan Giggs – 12 (2001/02)
- David Beckham – 12 (2000/01)
Benjamin Sesko added a third to make it 3-1 to United at Old Trafford.
Speaking after the game, Fernandes said: “I’m more proud and more pleased because I did it serving my teammates. That’s even better because giving joy to others is also very good when you play in the position I play.
“So I’m very happy that I can help them to score and to be happy having their moments.
“Obviously it’s a huge achievement for me, but the main achievement will be in the top spots at the end of the season.”
Fernandes’ assist for Cunha’s goal was his 100th in all competitions for Manchester United, the fourth player to reach a century of assists for the club in the Premier League era.
This is after Ryan Giggs (249), Wayne Rooney (127), and David Beckham (115).
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Fernandes nears legendary United duo
Fernandes has been in dazzling form for United this season, as illustrated by his goal and assist against Crystal Palace earlier this month.
It was the 18th time he had managed both in a Premier League match since his debut in the competition in February 2020.
The only player to have registered more in that same timeframe is Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah, who has bagged a goal and an assist in a whopping 27 games.
At United, only Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs have nabbed both a goal and an assist in a single Premier League fixture more than Fernandes, having done so on 35 and 22 occasions respectively.
Fernandes’ stunning attacking returns of late have coincided with the arrival of Michael Carrick as United’s interim boss.
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Under Carrick, Fernandes has registered two goals and eight assists in eight league fixtures.
That means more than half of the United skipper’s assists in Premier League action have come since Carrick stepped into the dugout following Ruben Amorim’s sacking.
Carrick’s appointment, even if only until the end of the season, has proved to be a shrewd one.
With Carrick at the helm, United have only lost once in the Premier League.
Three points against Aston Villa will put them well clear in third place and just seven points off Man City in second.