The FIFA World Cup Man of the Match award has been handed out since 2002, and in the 24 years since its introduction, no player has dominated the honour quite like Lionel Messi. Lionel Messi has become the first player to win six FIFA World Cup Man of the Match awards in a single tournament, taking his all-time total to a record 16. From his debut at Germany 2006 to his sixth and final tournament at the 2026 edition, Messi has redefined what individual excellence at a World Cup can look like. Here is the full, verified top 10 ranking.
Important note on data: FIFA first began handing out Player of the Match awards in 2002. All figures below are from 2002 onwards only.
Table of Contents
Top 10 — Most Man of the Match Awards in World Cup History (All-Time)
| Rank | Player | Country | Total MOTM Awards | Tournaments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 16 | 6 (2006–2026) |
| 2 | Cristiano Ronaldo | Portugal | 9 | 5 |
| 3 | Kylian Mbappe | France | 8 | 3 |
| 4 | Arjen Robben | Netherlands | 6 | 3 |
| 5 | Luis Suarez | Uruguay | 5 | 3 |
| 5 | Luka Modric | Croatia | 5 | Multiple |
| 5 | Harry Kane | England | 5 | Multiple |
| 8 | Neymar Jr | Brazil | 4 | Multiple |
| 8 | Antoine Griezmann | France | 4 | Multiple |
| 8 | Eden Hazard | Belgium | 4 | Multiple |
1. Lionel Messi — Argentina — 16 MOTM Awards
Messi now has a record 16 official FIFA World Cup Player of the Match awards throughout his career.
The most Player of the Match awards won at the FIFA World Cup finals (male) is a record previously set at 11 by Lionel Messi between 2010 and 2022. He won awards in 2010 (one), 2014 (four) and 2018 (one), before winning five at the 2022 World Cup. His 2026 campaign then added six more to shatter his own record entirely.
The Argentina captain produced a series of outstanding performances throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, earning the prestigious individual honour in six of Argentina’s seven matches.
Messi clinched his fifth Man of the Match award in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals against England, setting up Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez’s goals.
His resume now includes six World Cup appearances, 34 matches, 21 goals and 12 assists.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo — Portugal — 9 MOTM Awards
Cristiano Ronaldo has earned 9 MOTM awards across his World Cup career with Portugal. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has a total of 7 Man of the Match awards to his name across 5 World Cups going into 2026, with two more added during the 2026 tournament to take his total to nine.
Ronaldo’s MOTM haul spans six World Cups and reflects one of the most prolific individual performers the tournament has ever seen on the European side of the bracket.
3. Kylian Mbappe — France — 8 MOTM Awards
Kylian Mbappe surpassed Arjen Robben’s tally and, with two Man of the Match awards in as many games this summer, his total of seven suggests he is well on course to break plenty of tournament records over the course of his career. He added further awards in the 2026 knockout stages to reach eight.
France captain Kylian Mbappe received three Man of the Match awards at the 2026 World Cup, adding to his previous tournament tallies and cementing his place as the third-highest MOTM winner in World Cup history — remarkable for a player still in his mid-twenties with more tournaments ahead.
4. Arjen Robben — Netherlands — 6 MOTM Awards
The Netherlands winger had a unique ability to manipulate the ball like a magician, earning six Man of the Match awards across just three tournaments between 2006 and 2014.
Robben completely dominated the World Cups, helping the Netherlands finish second in 2010 and third in 2014. His six awards from just three tournaments underlines just how consistently and spectacularly he performed on the biggest stage — averaging two MOTM awards per tournament throughout his World Cup career.
5. Luis Suarez — Uruguay — 5 MOTM Awards
Uruguay’s Luis Suarez has 5 MOTM awards to his name at World Cups. Suarez has played in three World Cups and won awards in all of them.
The Uruguayan striker was one of the most feared forwards in the world at his peak, and his World Cup performances reflected that. His ability to combine goals, assists, and relentless pressing made him a constant threat — and a constant MOTM candidate — across multiple tournaments.
5. Luka Modric — Croatia — 5 MOTM Awards
At the 2018 World Cup alone, Luka Modric won the award three times — against Nigeria, Argentina, and Russia. His total of five across his World Cup career ties him with Suarez and Kane at fifth on the all-time list.
Modric’s ability to control matches from deep, dictate the tempo, and deliver when it mattered most made him one of the most decorated individual performers of the 2018 tournament, where he went on to win the Golden Ball as well.
5. Harry Kane — England — 5 MOTM Awards
The fact that Kane has won five World Cup Man of the Matches can hardly be a surprise, and he is bound to get more before this summer is over. He is level with 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Luka Modric and former Barcelona striker Luis Suarez.
At the 2018 World Cup, Harry Kane won the award against Tunisia, Panama, and Colombia — three of his five all-time tournament MOTM awards.
8. Neymar Jr — Brazil — 4 MOTM Awards
Neymar Jr earned four Man of the Match awards across his World Cup career with Brazil. The Brazilian forward, who famously broke down in tears at his 2026 World Cup squad announcement, has been a central figure in Brazil’s attacking play across multiple tournaments and his MOTM tally reflects the impact he has had on the global stage at his best.
8. Antoine Griezmann — France — 4 MOTM Awards
At the 2018 World Cup, Antoine Griezmann won the award against Australia, Uruguay, and Croatia. He added a fourth across subsequent tournaments. Griezmann was the creative heartbeat of France’s 2018 World Cup-winning campaign and his MOTM haul from that edition alone justifies his place on this list.
8. Eden Hazard — Belgium — 4 MOTM Awards
Belgium’s Eden Hazard has a total of 4 MOTM wins to his name at World Cups. In World Cups, Eden Hazard has been the man of the occasion for Belgium, with his four Man of the Match awards enough to prove his mettle. He officially retired on 10 October 2023, at just 32.
Most MOTM Awards in a Single World Cup Tournament
| Awards | Player | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 2026 |
| 5 | Lionel Messi | Argentina | 2022 |
| 4 | Wesley Sneijder | Netherlands | 2010 |
| 3 | Multiple Players | Various | 2018 |
Lionel Messi became the first player ever to win six FIFA World Cup Man of the Match awards in a single tournament at the 2026 edition, surpassing his own previous record of five set at Qatar 2022.
2026 World Cup — MOTM Leaderboard
| Player | Country | 2026 MOTM Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 6 |
| Jude Bellingham | England | 4 |
| Kylian Mbappe | France | 3 |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | 3 |
| Vinicius Jr | Brazil | 3 |
| Lamine Yamal | Spain | 2 |
| Harry Kane | England | 2 |
Jude Bellingham finished second in MOTM awards at the 2026 World Cup, while Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and England captain Harry Kane completed the list with two awards apiece.
FAQs
Who has the most Man of the Match awards in World Cup history?
Messi now has a record 16 official FIFA World Cup Player of the Match awards throughout his career.
When did FIFA introduce the Man of the Match award at the World Cup?
FIFA first began handing out Player of the Match awards in 2002.
Who has the most Man of the Match awards in a single World Cup tournament?
Lionel Messi became the first player to win six FIFA World Cup Man of the Match awards in a single tournament, achieving the feat at the 2026 edition.
Who is second on the all-time World Cup MOTM list?
Cristiano Ronaldo has earned 9 MOTM awards across his World Cup career with Portugal, placing him second on the all-time list.
How many MOTM awards did Messi win before the 2026 World Cup?
Messi had accumulated 11 Player of the Match awards between 2010 and 2022 — winning one in 2010, four in 2014, one in 2018, and five in 2022. His six awards at the 2026 tournament took his total to a record 16.
