On Sunday, August 24, 2025, at 11:50 PM +07, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes suffered a costly penalty miss against Fulham at Craven Cottage, a moment that has tied him with a notorious Premier League record. The 30-year-old Portuguese midfielder failed to convert from the spot in the 38th minute, blasting the ball over the bar, leaving the score at 0-0 at halftime. This miss marks his fifth penalty failure since his debut in the competition in February 2020, leveling him with Mohamed Salah and Aleksandar Mitrovic, who also sit at five misses, according to Opta stats released post-match.

The incident unfolded after a VAR review awarded United a penalty for a foul by Fulham’s Calvin Bassey on Mason Mount. Fernandes, who boasts a strong penalty record with 22 successes from 27 attempts, stepped up with confidence but faltered, a rare lapse that stunned Old Trafford faithful watching remotely. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville noted, “That’s an ugly miss—Fernandes looked rattled,” attributing it to a stumble into referee Chris Kavanagh before the kick. The miss echoed his last penalty failure on December 6, 2023, ending an 81% success rate, and has now placed him in unwanted company.

Fernandes’ tally aligns him with Salah, who has missed five from 39 attempts since 2017, and Mitrovic, whose five misses from 22 tries highlight his Fulham tenure. The statistic, shared on X by @PremStats at 9:45 PM +07, has sparked debate, with @ManUtdFanatic posting, “Five misses—Bruno’s spot-kick curse is real!” Fans recall his 2020-21 peak, where he scored nine from 10, but recent form—two misses in 2024-25—suggests pressure mounting. Manager Ruben Amorim downplayed it post-match, saying, “He’ll bounce back—he’s our leader.”

The Fulham game, part of United’s early season struggles, saw Fernandes visibly frustrated, throwing his arms up after the miss. Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno’s save instincts weren’t tested, but the miss cost United momentum, with the match ending 0-0. Neville’s analysis on air pointed to mental strain, possibly from captaincy demands, a view supported by Fernandes’ 2025 comments on balancing leadership and performance.

As of tonight, August 24, 2025, at 11:50 PM +07, the record tie has dominated social media, with #BrunoPenalty trending alongside clips of the miss. Does this signal a decline, or will Fernandes reclaim his penalty prowess? The full impact on United’s campaign awaits, but for now, this miss ties him to a select, unwanted club in Premier League history, leaving fans and analysts dissecting his next move.