Dalglish and Carney confirmed as PFA Merit Award winners as Fernandes leads Men's Player of the Year race

Sir Kenny Dalglish and Karen Carney were named as the 2026 PFA Merit Award winners at the Professional Footballers Association ceremony held at Manchester Opera House on Tuesday, with stars from the Premier League, EFL, and Women’s Super League gathering for the annual gala.

The Merit Award is designed to honour individuals who have made a lasting contribution to football. Dalglish, 75, is recognised not only as one of the game’s greatest players and managers but for his leadership in the aftermath of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster and his ongoing work raising millions of pounds for cancer care through the Marina Dalglish Appeal, established in 2005 following his wife’s treatment for breast cancer. In June, Dalglish announced he is himself receiving treatment for cancer. Carney, 39, retired from playing as a midfielder before building a prominent career as a broadcaster and analyst, and was appointed by the UK Government to chair an independent review into women’s football.

On the playing side, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is the frontrunner for the Men’s Player of the Year award after a remarkable individual season. The Portuguese midfielder broke the record for most assists in a single Premier League campaign, finishing with 21. His manager, Michael Carrick, was also present at the ceremony. Fernandes’ fellow nominees are Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland of Manchester City, and Arsenal trio Gabriel Magalhães, David Raya, and Declan Rice — a shortlist that reflects Arsenal’s title-winning campaign and City’s domestic double.

The Men’s Young Player of the Year race features Cherki alongside Max Dowman (Arsenal), Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), and Rio Ngumoha (Liverpool).

In the women’s game, Manchester City striker Bunny Shaw is considered the favourite for Women’s Player of the Year. She faces competition from Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa), Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Jess Park (Manchester United), and Alessia Russo (Arsenal). The Women’s Young Player of the Year nominees are Laura Blindkilde Brown (Manchester City), Veerle Buurman (Chelsea), Alyssa Thompson (Chelsea), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Toko Koga (Tottenham Hotspur), and Olivia Smith (Arsenal).

Awards are also being presented across the Championship, League One, League Two, and Women’s Super League 2. England manager Thomas Tuchel, presenter Stacey Dooley, and actor James Nelson-Joyce were among the other notable attendees on the night.