आर्सेनल और लिवरपूल सितारों सहित विश्व कप में हर प्लेयर ऑफ द मैच विजेता

Football might be a team sport – but that won’t stop players hoping their World Cup performances are recognised beyond the results.

FIFA first officially introduced what was then known as the man of the match award at the 2002 edition of their showpiece tournament.

Havertz seized his chance to right the wrongs of the Qatar World Cup with his star showing against Curacao

El Hadji Diouf was the inaugural recipient of the individual honour following Senegal’s 1-0 win over France in the competition opener.

Over two decades on, the Lions of Teranga will again open their World Cup against Les Blues, but none of the players on the pitch will be the first to claim the award at the 2026 World Cup.

In total, Lionel Messi is top of the pile – having collected 11 POTM prizes ahead of his sixth and final bid for the Jules Rimet trophy.

Cristiano Ronaldo is next up with seven, despite Portugal only twice going past the round of 16 in his five outings at the World Cup.

Harry Kane is leading the list for England, with four player of the match awards across both the 2018 and 2022 editions.

Now named the Superior Player of the Match due to sponsorship reasons, over 100 stars can potentially take a trophy home this year.

And no one might be more delighted than Kai Havertz, who infamously had to pose with one in Qatar following Germany’s exit.

However, the Arsenal star beamed this time around as he was crowned FIFA’s best player in the 7-1 victory against Curacao.

Who decides the World Cup player of the match?

In the Premier League, co-commentators of the TV broadcaster showing the game pick who will be honoured post-game.

But at the 2026 World Cup, it’s determined by a fan vote on the FIFA Play Zone app and website from halftime until the final whistle.

Van Dijk’s expression showed he’d have much rather a Netherlands win after being named POTM following his goal in the 2-2 draw with JapanGetty

World Cup: Most player of the match awards by edition

2002 South Korea/Japan

• Brazil Rivaldo – 3

2006 Germany

• Italy Andrea Pirlo – 3

2010 South Africa

• Netherlands Wesley Sneijder – 4

2014 Brazil

• Argentina Lionel Messi – 4

2018 Russia

• France Antoine Griezmann – 3
• Belgium Eden Hazard – 3
• England Harry Kane – 3
• Croatia Luka Modrić – 3

2022 Qatar

• Argentina Lionel Messi – 5

World Cup 2026 Player of the Match – every winner

Thursday, June 11

• Group A: Mexico 2-0 South Africa – Julian Quinones (Mexico)

Friday, June 12

• Group A: South Korea 2-1 Czech Republic – Hwang Inbeom (Korea)
• Group B: Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina – Ismael Kone (Canada)

Saturday, June 13

• Group D: USA 4-1 Paraguay – Folarin Balogun (USA)
• Group B: Qatar 1-1 Switzerland – Mahmoud Abunada (Qatar)
• Group C: Brazil 1-1 Morocco – Vinicius Jr (Brazil)

England youth international Balogun scored twice on his World Cup debut for the USMNT in their home tournamentGetty

Sunday, June 14

• Group C: Haiti 0-1 Scotland – John McGinn (Scotland)
• Group D: Australia 2-0 Turkey – Nestory Irankunda (Australia)
• Group E: Germany 7-1 Curacao – Kai Havertz (Germany)
• Group F: Netherlands 2-2 Japan – Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands)

Aston Villa captain McGinn scored the goal that sealed Scotland’s first World Cup victory in 36 yearsGetty

Monday, June 15

• Group E: Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador – Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast)
• Group F: Sweden 5-1 Tunisia – Alexander Isak (Sweden)
• Group H: Spain 0-0 Cape Verde – Vozinha (Cabo Verde)
• Group G: Belgium 1-1 Egypt – Emam Ashour (Egypt)
• Group H: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay – Federico Valverde (Uruguay)

Diomande underlined why Europe’s biggest clubs are chasing his services this summerGetty Vozinha didn’t turn professional until the age of 25 and currently plays in Portugal’s second divisionGetty

Tuesday, June 16

• Group G: Iran 2-2 New Zealand – Ramin Rezaeian (IR Iran)

More to follow…