Declan Rice praised for what he did seconds after Bruno Fernandes beat him to PFA Player of the Year

Bruno Fernandes was crowned the men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year for the 2025/26 campaign on Tuesday (August 25), pipping Declan Rice to the accolade, but fans have praised the Arsenal midfielder for his classy reaction.

Despite failing to help Manchester United win silverware last term, Fernandes enjoyed a top-class season from a personal point of view, breaking the all-time Premier League assist record with 21, one more than Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry, who produced 20 each in 2019/20 and 2002/03 respectively.

The 2026 PFA Awards took place at the Manchester Opera House, with a who’s who of Premier League stars in attendance.

Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly picked up the Men’s PFA Young Player award, with the Englishman also making the PFA Premier League Team of the Year alongside five Arsenal players – David Raya, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Rice – as well as three of his City teammates – Rayan Cherki, Erling Haaland and Antoine Semenyo. Brentford’s Igor Thiago and Fernandes also made the cut.

Having helped Arsenal win the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, as well as reach the Champions League and League Cup finals last season, the Gunners’ stars may feel slightly hard done by after missing out on the Players’ Player of the Season award, especially Rice, who many thought deserved to pick up the gong.

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Declan Rice receives praise for reaction to Bruno Fernandes PFA Player of the Year victory

However, fans on social media have praised Rice for his classy reaction in the moments after ex-United and Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata announced Fernandes' victory.

One fan said: “Fair play to Declan Rice, he was the only Arsenal player who actually clapped when Bruno was announced as the winner.”

Another added: “One thing about Rice, he’ll always show respect. Proper mentality.”

A third claimed: “The cameraman went straight to the Arsenal players when Bruno was announced as the winner. 🤣😭

“Fair play to Declan Rice for being so enthusiastic in his applause. 👏”

While a fourth commented: “Premier League champions Rice and Gabriel lose out on the individual award, while Bruno wins it. Trophies should matter; individual numbers shouldn’t outweigh what you actually achieved as a team. A clear injustice to Rice and Gabriel.”

A fifth weighed in: “Only Declan Rice looked happy when Bruno Fernandes was announced as the PFA Players’ Player of the Year. Just look at the faces of Raya, Gabriel and Saliba when he went up on stage; they looked absolutely devastated.”

Speaking after last night’s ceremony, Rice said he and his teammates are aiming to become a “great team” by winning back-to-back Premier League titles, while also praising the impact of head coach Mikel Arteta.

“[We need to do] the exact same as what we did last year, play with the same intensity, same desire,” Rice said.

“This year’s all about mentality for me.

“You want to go back-to-back, you want to become a great team, not just win it once, you want to go and do it again with all the pressures on, so yeah, bring it on.”

On Arteta, he added: “Incredible, incredible, from the moment I met him for what he’s done for me, done for this club, I can only speak so highly of him; he fully deserves it, and yeah, it’s because of him why we won it.”

Arsenal return to Premier League action away at Aston Villa on August 31.