Player of the match

In team sport, a player of the match or man of the match or woman of the match award is often given to the most outstanding player in a particular match. This can be a player from either team, although the player is generally chosen from the winning team.

Some sports have unique traditions regarding these awards, and they are especially sought after in championship or all-star games. In Australia, the term “best and fairest” is normally used, both for individual games and season-long awards. In some competitions, particularly in North America, the terms “most valuable player” (MVP) or “most outstanding player” (MOP) are used. In ice hockey in North America, three players of the game, called the “three stars”, are recognised.

In sports where playoffs are decided by series rather than individual games, such as professional basketball and baseball, MVP awards are commonly given for the series, and in ice hockey’s NHL, for performance in the entire playoffs.

Association football

In football, the “player of the match” (POTM) or the “man of the match” (MOTM) award typically goes to a player on the winning side. Players who score a hat-trick, or goalkeepers who keep a clean sheet under pressure often get the award. Hat-trick scorers usually receive the match ball whether or not they are officially named player of the match.

The player of the match is often chosen by a television commentator or a sponsor. However, not all competitions have an official player of the match award, so sometimes accolades are given by websites or newspapers instead. In the Premier League, for example, a player receives a small black and gold trophy for their player of the match performance.

Records and statistics

Men’s football

Most POTM wins at FIFA World Cup (since 2002)

As of 19 December 2022

Rank	Player	Wins	World Cup(s) with awards
2	Lionel Messi	12	2010, 2014, 2018, 2022
1	Cristiano Ronaldo	13	2010, 2014, 2018, 2022	Eden Hazard	2014, 2018	3	Arjen Robben	6	2006, 2010, 2014
4	Kylian Mbappé	5	2018, 2022
	Luka Modrić		2018, 2022
	Luis Suárez		2010, 2014, 2018
7	Antoine Griezmann	4	2018, 2022
	Keisuke Honda		2010, 2014
	Harry Kane		2018, 2022
	Miroslav Klose		2002, 2006
	Thomas Müller		2010, 2014
	Neymar		2014, 2018, 2022
	Park Ji-sung		2002, 2006, 2010
	James Rodríguez		2014, 2018
	Wesley Sneijder		2010

Most POTM wins (since 2009)

1. Eden Hazard – 324 (50% of matches)
2. Cristiano Ronaldo – 175 (35% of matches)
3. Lionel Messi – 174 (26% of matches)
4. Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 101 (20% of matches)
5. Neymar – 87 (28% of matches)
6. Robert Lewandowski – 86 (17% of matches)
7. Harry Kane – 79 (21% of matches)
8. Kevin De Bruyne – 76 (18% of matches)
9. Gareth Bale – 73 (17% of matches)
10. Luis Suárez – 72 (16% of matches)
11. Antoine Griezmann – 70 (13% of matches)
12. Karim Benzema – 70 (12% of matches)
13. Dimitri Payet – 67 (14% of matches)
14. Memphis Depay – 66 (18% of matches)
15. Alexis Sánchez – 64 (14% of matches)
16. Gonzalo Higuaín – 60 (12% of matches)
17. Nabil Fekir – 58 (20% of matches)
18. Kylian Mbappé – 57 (22% of matches)
19. Arjen Robben – 57 (20% of matches)
20. Paul Pogba – 57 (14% of matches)

Most POTM wins by league (since 2009)

Premier League: Eden Hazard (62)

La Liga: Lionel Messi (196)

Ligue 1: Zlatan Ibrahimović (42)

Bundesliga: Marco Reus (48)

Serie A: Alejandro Gómez (38)

Women’s football

Most POTM wins at FIFA Women’s World Cup (since 2003)

Australian rules football

In Australian rules football, the player of the game is often referred to as having been the “best on ground” (or “BOG”). Media outlets provide immediate, unofficial recognition that is largely honorary, often on a 5–4–3–2–1 or 3–2–1 voting basis. Officially, the AFL recognises the player of the game as being the player awarded the maximum three votes by umpires in the Brownlow Medal count at season’s end. Exceptions are made during the season for certain reserved games such as the Western Derby, The ANZAC Day clash, QClash, and Showdown, where medallions are officially rewarded in presentations following the conclusion of the match. On the day of the AFL Grand Final, a player will be awarded the Norm Smith Medal as being the best on ground voted by an independent panel of Australian rules football experts.

Cricket

In cricket, the man of the match award became a regular feature in Test matches in the mid 1980s. The man of the match title is usually awarded to the player whose contribution is seen as the most critical in winning the game.

In one match held on 3 April 1996, the whole team from New Zealand was awarded the Men of the Match award. It was the first instance when a whole team was awarded it. In a test match played between 15,16,17,18 January 1999 between South Africa vs West Indies, the whole South African team was awarded man of the match.

In Test matches, Jacques Kallis holds the record for the highest number of awards won, with 23 in 166 matches played. In ODIs, Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the highest number of man of the match titles, with 62 awards in 463 matches played. Tendulkar is followed by Sanath Jayasuriya, who, along with Ricky Ponting, also holds the record for the most Man of the Match titles as captain. In the shortest form of the game, T20 Internationals, this record is held by Virat Kohli, who has won 15 awards in 115 matches.

Gaelic games

In the Gaelic games of hurling and Gaelic football, the “man of the match” (Irish: Laoch na hImeartha, “hero of the game”) is commonly awarded after important games. An unusual example was the 2008 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final, where the award was given to Brian Cody, the Kilkenny manager, rather than to a player.

In the women’s sports of camogie and ladies’ Gaelic football, the term “player of the match” (Irish: Laoch na hImeartha, “hero of the game”) is used instead.

Ice hockey

In North American ice hockey, the three players who perform best in the game, often either those who accumulate the most points or outstanding goaltenders, are usually designated the three stars of the game: the top-performing player is the “first star”, and so on. This tradition originated in the 1930s as a promotion for a “Three Star” brand of gasoline.

However, in international play (and outside North America), the three stars concept is rarely used. Instead, other leagues may issue awards to one player who performed best in the game.

Rugby football

Both codes of rugby, rugby league and rugby union, commonly have man of the match or player of the match awards. In televised or sponsored matches, a commentator or sponsor often decides who gets the award, and it is presented to the winner after the match.

Examples of man of the match awards in professional men’s rugby league are the Clive Churchill Medal in the National Rugby League Grand Final, the Karyn Murphy Medal in the NRL Women’s Grand Final, the Lance Todd Trophy in the Challenge Cup final and the Harry Sunderland Trophy in the Super League Grand Final.

College basketball and gridiron football

In college basketball and college football, the two collegiate sports with the most television coverage in the United States, a top player from each team is usually honoured as “players of the game.” These athletes usually cannot collect material prizes due to NCAA regulations. Instead, television companies broadcasting the game or corporate sponsors will often make donations to the scholarship funds of each school in the names of the winning players.

In college basketball’s Final Four events, a Most Outstanding Player award is given, for performance across both the semi-final and championship game. A Most Outstanding Player award is also given for each of the four regionals, based upon performances in the regional semifinals (Sweet Sixteen) and final (Elite Eight).

Gridiron football

The National Football League names an MVP for two prominent games on its schedule:

• A Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award has been awarded at each Super Bowl (the NFL’s championship).
• The Pro Bowl has had an MVP award throughout its existence. The current Pro Bowl MVP format selects one offensive and one defensive player. From 1956–1971, two MVP awards were given, one to a skill position and the other to a lineman or linebacker. In 1972, an offensive and defensive MVP were named. From 1973–2012, a single Pro Bowl MVP was chosen.

Individual games typically have an informal player (or players) of the game chosen by the broadcast network covering the game; one prominent example of this phenomenon is the Turkey Leg Award, All-Iron Award and Galloping Gobbler trophies awarded for games held on Thanksgiving.

The Canadian Football League awards two MVP awards for its championship game, the Grey Cup. The Grey Cup Most Valuable Player award is open to all players; the Dick Suderman Trophy is limited to players with Canadian citizenship or who were raised in Canada since childhood.