BRUNO FERNANDES was nicknamed the “best in the world” by Manchester United fans after providing a HAT-TRICK of assists in Portugal’s record-breaking triumph.
In Monday’s Euro 2024 qualifier, the 29-year-old midfielder even managed to score as his team trounced Luxembourg 9-0.
Bruno Fernandes scored a goal and had three assists versus Luxembourg.Photographer: Reuters
Fernandes scored the goal in the 12th minute at the Estadio Algarve, crossing the ball onto the head of Goncalo Inacio with the outside of his foot.
He then assisted Inacio once more just before the halfway break.
He got his third assist in the second period by floating a fantastic ball over the top for Liverpool’s Diogo Jota to race on and finish to make it 5-0.
Fernandes then added to the tally with a close-range thumping for the eighth goal of the nine-goal thrashing.
Despite a shaky start to the Premier League season for him and United, he continued his excellent form on the international stage.
Fernandes has been involved in more Euro qualifying goals this season than any other player, with four assists and three goals in six games.
And, after seeing snippets of his recent spectacular performance for Portugal on social media, United fans flocked to Twitter to praise their coach.
“Best in the world,” declared one as another said he was “running the show”.
Another called him “Magnifico” as a fellow United supporter labelled the ace a “creative machine”.
The score was also the most in Portugal’s history, surpassing the 8-0 victories against Liechtenstein and Kuwait.
And if they beat second-placed Slovakia at home on October 13 and Luxembourg loses away to Iceland, they would qualify for the Euros in Germany with three games to spare.