No outfield player has chalked up more minutes in world football than Bruno Fernandes over the last three years, according to new data released on Wednesday.
The Manchester United captain, 31, has been a mainstay at Old Trafford ever since his arrival from Sporting Lisbon in 2020, establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most reliable midfielders in terms of his availability.
A regular 90-minute man under Ruben Amorim and previously Erik ten Hag, the Portuguese star has hardly missed a game for Manchester United over the course of the last three years, fortunately steering clear of major injury.
According to the latest weekly post released by the Football Observatory on Wednesday, Fernandes has totalled a remarkable 16,880 minutes from 192 matches for club and country, more than any footballer worldwide over the last three years excluding goalkeepers.
The report, which takes into account minutes played in official matches only, saw Real Madrid and Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde, 27, finish in second place with 16,428 minutes, despite him having played seven games more than Fernandes during that period.
Benfica and Argentina veteran Nicolas Otamendi, who played for Manchester City between 2015 and 2020 and is now 37 years old, was a surprise inclusion in third place having accumulated 16,310 minutes from 187 matches.
Gustavo Gomez of Palmeiras and Wolves midfielder Jhon Arias, who joined from Fluminense last summer, round out the top five with 16,040 and 15,864 minutes respectively across the last three years.
Five more Premier League stars featured inside the world's top 20 'most physically robust' players, with Arsenal's Declan Rice (8), Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk (11), Manchester City's Tijjani Reijnders (16), Chelsea's Moises Caicedo (19) and Sunderland's Granit Xhaka (20) all making the cut over the three-year spell.
Caicedo and his Ecuador team-mate Willian Pacho, who plays for PSG, are the youngest to feature inside the top 20, each aged 24.
Other notable names who have been used frequently by the clubs across the three-year window include Kylian Mbappe, Joshua Kimmich and Harry Kane.
The 32-year-old England captain, who rarely ever misses out for Bayern Munich or the Three Lions, is the most-used centre forward in world football besides Mbappe, with 14,491 minutes played since December 17, 2022.
Van Dijk, who steered Liverpool to Premier League success during Arne Slot's first season at the club last campaign, is second on the list over the last two years with 11,250 minutes, beaten only by Otamendi with 216 more.
Over just the last 365 days, Atletico Mineiro centre-back Junior Alonso leads the way with 6,036 minutes, followed by Club Brugge midfielder Hans Vanaken and Otamendi.
Marc Cucurella, who has become an integral part of both Chelsea's and Spain's defence over the past year, played more minutes than any Premier League player since December 17, 2024.
The left-back totalled an impressive 5,615 minutes for club and country from 68 games, bettered by only six players worldwide.
One of those footballers was PSG midfielder Vitinha, who helped steer the French giants to Champions League glory last summer.
The Portuguese star played 5,683 minutes and featured in a record 72 games over the course of the year, tied with Benfica and Greece striker Vangelis Pavlidis.
potabeknry
0
Fernandes injury free record makes him an asset Manchester United should covet. The implication is that these types of players are capable of playing well into their late thirties providing cover, quality and stability from one transition of players generation to another. If for anything, United should hold on to Captain Fernandes with an eye for the future.
isofadaik87
1
True definition of consistency.... God bless you Bruno, you'll be missed massively if you get injured or leave United.
penaldo83
0
the fa cup nd carabao cup is a joke to yu?
what is that cup for ? tea ?? ☕
Koddloptuy
0
he win fa cup 2023 and callin cup 2024
hansing
1
He is a VIP Player for that matter. One of the Best
ImoukhuedeGeorge
0
The good part is that he doesn’t gets injured. He’s a workhorse. He will deliver with good players around him
gm11
0
That’s why they won nothing
He's won 2 cups with united. In a bad squad that's good. We don't have a league like yours where bayern are the only team in the league.
sozkmorsty
0
i would like to see him in another squad to win titles.after rashford sensational discover bruno is the best since ...glazer's family are destroying united my Lovely team.when i see all this years of mismanagement im crying.till they stay there united will continue falling down...bruno we like you so much...you show us that you love our club.but you came here at a bad moment of our club...but i want you to win titles so if you can find a big club i will always support you.see mc tominay rashford and anthony they are now enjoying ...glazer's family 😔😔😔😔
voebeipsuy
0
A player like Bruno is extremely important for any club to have. He's always fit and his impact is felt in most games. Unfortunately , he's 31yrs now and may not be able to give more years with top performance. I hope United can find a suitable replacement when he leaves.
That’s why they won nothing
Davichi
1
A player like Bruno is extremely important for any club to have. He's always fit and his impact is felt in most games. Unfortunately , he's 31yrs now and may not be able to give more years with top performance. I hope United can find a suitable replacement when he leaves.
Davichi
0
are you daft? it literally says Fede was second and you disagree with stats? hiw dense are you?
Maybe he's the best statistician in the world and has done the math. 😂 Just imagine!!!
Davichi
1
a player that doesn't make any tackle, doesn't want to bleed for his team mates small contact he fall down how will he get injured
What a pathetic statement. So you'd prefer he gets injured? It's not a surprise, because many of you reason like fishes.
Davichi
0
Man Utd needs responsibility shared amongst several players not just a single guy. Bruno is a star player but I prefer we take away Bruno so that others can rise up to their responsibilities
And who told you that the presence of Bruno is preventing anyone from "rising up to responsibility"? In case you don't know, If United looses Bruno without a proper replacement, the club will regress again.
steve887
0
yeah , you're right I think Bruno should leave if we can get a replacement of him , I don't kobbie
adedefender
2
Man Utd needs responsibility shared amongst several players not just a single guy. Bruno is a star player but I prefer we take away Bruno so that others can rise up to their responsibilities
lbcrna
0
a player that doesn't make any tackle, doesn't want to bleed for his team mates small contact he fall down how will he get injured
lbcrna
1
That just tells you how useless united have been
punbdemrtz
0
what did he WIN
[image]
the fa cup nd carabao cup is a joke to yu?
IbrahimIG
0
what of hakimi?
cotdelsz
2
for someone who don't tackle just wave is harms it's no surprise
Lovebug2
2
what did he WIN
Lovebug2
2
And won nothing at all
dominant-S
0
isn't that not worth to be thank for?
Wiybdknrs
0
he's hardly injured
Trevorn
2
Just being available is such an underrated aspect to football today. We're all so caught up in the goals and assists that we overlook consistency. No surprise to see Fede in second though, I actually thought he was in first place.😁
blackBeed
1
I guess no wonder there isn't any other player that can compete with his chance creation, mofo is always available and playing 90mins
blackBeed
0
I can't agree Valverde is far
are you daft? it literally says Fede was second and you disagree with stats? hiw dense are you?
Miodioptz
2
Bruno all the way! The best midfielder in the world.
Jupikmntu
2
I can't agree Valverde is far