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Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes appeared to have etched his name in Premier League history on the season’s final day against Brighton. However, his landmark 21st assist has come under scrutiny, with a former officiating head insisting that the record has not actually been broken.

Hackett challenges the historic milestone

The football fraternity was preparing to anoint Bruno Fernandes as the new playmaking record-holder after his tally reached 21 assists at the Amex Stadium. But former PGMOL general manager Keith Hackett has dramatically entered the discussion, declaring that the Manchester United midfielder’s contribution should not have been officially recorded as an assist.

Expressing his disagreement publicly, Hackett wrote: "This is clearly not an assist therefore record not broken."

The retired referee’s remarks have ignited widespread debate about how assists are defined in English football, particularly when such a decision affects a potential record-breaking moment.

Fernandes surpasses Henry and De Bruyne

Before the controversy surfaced, the Portuguese star was being hailed for surpassing two of the most creative players in Premier League history. By reaching 21 assists, Fernandes went past Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne, who both previously held the record with 20 each.

The disputed moment came when Fernandes delivered a corner that Patrick Dorgu headed towards goal. Although the Dubious Goals Panel ruled in favour of awarding the assist to Fernandes, critics like Hackett argue that since Dorgu’s header hit the crossbar and then deflected off Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen before crossing the line, it should not be considered a valid assist. Nevertheless, the United captain was still honoured with the Premier League Playmaker of the Season award for his performances.

The captain stays grounded

Discussing the possibility of breaking the record, Fernandes said: "It's something that I think about because we are talking about Kevin and Thierry, they were two of the best players that the Premier League has seen in a long, long time."

He added: "Having the chance to be up there with their names – just for this category, let's not talk about the rest they have done in the Premier League – is very good, and I'm very proud of that."

The midfielder consistently shares credit with his teammates, acknowledging that his success depends on their finishing ability. In a previous interview, he noted: "I'm very grateful to see their reaction more than mine because I wanted Bryan [Mbeumo] to celebrate his goal. I didn't want to make it about myself because at the end of the day scoring the goal is the biggest thing in football."

What lies ahead for Bruno?

While experts continue to debate the legitimacy of his 21st assist, Fernandes is now turning his attention to a busy summer ahead. The Manchester United playmaker is set to join Portugal for international duty as they gear up for the World Cup. His club future also appears settled, with reports suggesting that he could be offered a contract extension beyond his current 2027 deal.

Despite the ongoing debate surrounding his record, Fernandes ends the season with nine goals and a host of personal honours to his name.