Cristiano Ronaldo Remains the Only Portuguese Player With More Premier League Goals Than Bruno Fernandes
Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes — two of Portugal’s greatest footballing icons — continue to dominate the record books in England. With Bruno Fernandes climbing rapidly up the Premier League scoring charts, one incredible statistic now stands out: Cristiano Ronaldo is the only Portuguese player in history to have scored more Premier League goals than Bruno Fernandes.
It’s a remarkable achievement for Fernandes, especially considering he plays primarily as a midfielder and joined Manchester United midway through the 2019–20 season. Despite not being a traditional forward, his output places him ahead of legendary Portuguese names such as Nani, Luis Boa Morte, Diogo Jota, João Moutinho, and even Bernardo Silva.
A Record That Speaks Volumes
Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal tally in the Premier League — spread across two spells with Manchester United — remains unmatched by any other Portuguese player. He is not only a global icon but also one of Manchester United’s greatest ever scorers, winning the Golden Boot in the 2007–08 season before returning in 2021 for a second stint filled with more memorable moments.
Bruno Fernandes, however, has achieved his ranking at a staggering pace. Arriving from Sporting CP in January 2020, he immediately transformed Manchester United’s attack. With goals from open play, long-range strikes, penalties, and clever late runs into the box, Bruno quickly built a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most productive midfielders.
His ability to deliver consistently across multiple seasons has pushed him past every other Portuguese scorer in league history — except for Cristiano himself.
A Midfielder With Forward Numbers
What makes Bruno’s accomplishment even more impressive is that he’s doing it from midfield. Most players high on goal charts are forwards or at least hybrid attackers, but Fernandes has become a uniquely prolific creator–scorer hybrid.
His strengths include:
- Elite vision and passing range
- Late runs into the box
- Precision shooting from distance
- Reliability from the penalty spot
- High-intensity pressing and transitional play
This blend of traits has allowed him to amass both goals and assists at a rate rarely seen in a Premier League midfielder.
Portuguese Legacy in the Premier League
Portugal has produced a long list of Premier League talents over the past two decades, but very few have matched the scoring consistency of Ronaldo or Fernandes.
Nani dazzled fans with flair, Bernardo Silva remains one of the league’s most intelligent creators, while Diogo Jota has emerged as a clinical finisher for Liverpool. Yet even with their immense quality, Fernandes has surpassed them all in scoring — reinforcing his reputation as one of the Premier League’s most influential imports.
A Duo Carving Portuguese History in England
That the top two Portuguese scorers in Premier League history are Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes is fitting. Both came through Sporting CP. Both captained Portugal. Both became stars at Manchester United. And both changed the Premier League in their own eras.
Cristiano Ronaldo set the standard.
Bruno Fernandes is the one chasing him.
And at the rate he’s going, even that gap may not last forever.
