Player of the match
The Player of the Match (also referred to as Man of the Match or Woman of the Match) is an individual award in team sports bestowed upon the player deemed to have delivered the most outstanding performance during a specific match, highlighting their exceptional skill, impact on the game, and contribution to their team's efforts. This accolade recognizes achievements across batting, bowling, fielding, or overall play, and it can be awarded to a player from either the winning or losing side, though it more commonly goes to someone from the victorious team. Common in sports such as cricket, association football (soccer), rugby, and others, the award serves to honor personal excellence within a collective context and is typically presented immediately after the match concludes.[1][2] The concept of singling out a top performer per match has roots in early 20th-century sports promotions but became standardized in international competitions during the late 20th century, evolving into a staple of professional play to celebrate standout contributions. In cricket, where the term originated as a regular post-match honor, the award gained prominence in Test matches from the mid-1980s onward, often going to the player whose actions most influenced the result, such as a match-winning innings or bowling spell.[3] In association football, it was formalized in major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup starting in 2002, sponsored initially by Budweiser and later by partners like Visa, to spotlight decisive plays in high-stakes games.[2] Selection methods vary by sport, league, and governing body, balancing subjective judgment with objective metrics to ensure fairness. In the English Premier League, fans vote via the official website or app from a shortlist of top performers based on fantasy points, with voting closing shortly after the final whistle to determine the recipient.[1] Similarly, for FIFA World Cup matches, global fan votes through digital platforms decide the winner, emphasizing the most influential player across the 90 minutes plus stoppage time.[2] In cricket under the International Cricket Council (ICC), a panel typically including match officials, commentators, and analysts evaluates contributions holistically, as seen in tournament awards like the Aramco-sponsored Player of the Match in the Women's Cricket World Cup.[4] Rugby unions, such as in the Six Nations, often rely on expert panels or broadcasters for decisions, focusing on tackles, tries, and leadership. Winners receive trophies, certificates, or monetary prizes in some cases, and the honor contributes to career accolades like cumulative Player of the Series awards.General Overview
Definition and Terminology
The player of the match award is an accolade bestowed upon the most outstanding or valuable performer in a single match across various team sports, recognizing exceptional individual contributions that significantly influence the game's outcome. This honor typically highlights a player's skill, impact, and performance under pressure, often determined by officials, coaches, broadcasters, or fan votes, and it applies to both winning and losing teams.[5] Terminology for this award varies by region, sport, and evolving standards of inclusivity, with "man of the match" serving as a traditional phrase originating from male-dominated contexts but increasingly replaced by the gender-neutral "player of the match."[6] In women's competitions, "woman of the match" is sometimes used, while alternatives like "player of the game" predominate in North American sports such as American football and basketball.[7] In Australian rules football, the equivalent is commonly termed "best on ground," emphasizing the top performer on the field.[8] This single-match recognition distinctly differs from broader awards like player of the series, which honors cumulative excellence over multiple games in a tournament, or most valuable player (MVP), typically awarded for season-long or playoff dominance rather than an isolated contest.[9] The award can be official, as in league-sanctioned presentations, or informal, such as media or fan selections, and is frequently influenced by sponsorships, leading to branded names like the "Michelob Ultra Superior Player of the Match" in FIFA events or the "PlayStation Player of the Match" in UEFA competitions.[10][11] For instance, in ice hockey, a similar concept appears as the "three stars," denoting the top three performers selected post-game.)Historical Development
The concept of the player of the match award emerged in the mid-20th century, originating in cricket as informal recognitions of exceptional performances in Test matches following World War II, where journalists and commentators often highlighted standout contributors without formal prizes.[12] These early acknowledgments laid the groundwork for structured honors, with the first notable milestone occurring during the 1968 Ashes series between England and Australia, where awards such as "Batsman of the Match" and "Bowler of the Match" were presented after each Test to recognize top performers in specific roles.[12] The introduction of One Day International (ODI) cricket in 1971 marked a key development, as the inaugural ODI between England and Australia featured the first official player of the match award, given to England's John Edrich for his 82 runs despite England's loss by 5 wickets.[13] The award's spread to association football occurred in the 1970s, coinciding with the growth of international tournaments like the FIFA World Cup, where individual excellence began to be formally noted amid rising global interest; the first formal player of the match awards in the FIFA World Cup were introduced in 2002. For instance, in the 1973 FA Cup final, Sunderland's Ian Porterfield was named man of the match for scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 upset win over Leeds United, reflecting the concept's integration into major domestic competitions.[14] In cricket, the player of the match became standardized in ODIs throughout the decade, enhancing its role in shorter formats that emphasized decisive contributions. Meanwhile, in rugby—both union and league—the award saw limited early use, such as gongs for the best forward and back in the 1921 New Zealand-South Africa Test, but formal adoption accelerated during the sport's professionalization in the 1990s, aligning with expanded international fixtures like the Rugby World Cup.[15] From the 1980s onward, broadcasting advancements and sponsorship deals significantly popularized the player of the match award across sports, transforming it from a niche recognition into a high-profile accolade often accompanied by cash prizes, trophies, or endorsements. Televised coverage allowed for real-time analysis and fan voting in some cases, amplifying visibility, while sponsors like Budweiser (for FIFA events from 2002 until 2022) integrated the award into marketing strategies to highlight star players; as of 2025, sponsorships have shifted to partners like Visa for the FIFA World Cup and Michelob Ultra for the FIFA Club World Cup.[10] This era's globalization, fueled by media, ensured the concept's diffusion to other codes, including Australian rules football, where it became routine in leagues like the AFL by the late 20th century. Typically, the award favors players from the winning team to emphasize match-defining impact.[16]Association Football
Selection Process
In association football, the selection of the Player of the Match, also known as Man of the Match, varies across competitions and leagues, typically involving expert panels, fan votes, or a combination thereof to identify the standout performer based on their overall impact on the game.[11][17] In the English Premier League, fans worldwide determine the recipient through an official post-match vote on the league's website or app, selecting from a shortlist of five players per team derived from Fantasy Premier League bonus points, which factor in metrics like goals, assists, and defensive actions. The voting window opens immediately after the final whistle and closes after 15 minutes, with the player receiving the most votes declared the winner for their perceived best performance. This fan-driven process emphasizes subjective impact, such as decisive contributions to the scoreline or match control, though it often favors players from the victorious side.[17] For UEFA competitions like the Champions League, a panel of UEFA Technical Observers—experienced former coaches and analysts—selects the awardee at each fixture, drawing on video analysis, match data (e.g., passes completed, shots, distances covered), and observations of on-field actions.[11][18] Criteria include exceptional skill in attack or defense, decisive moments like goals or key tackles, tactical efficiency, and a positive attitude, prioritizing contributions that influence the outcome such as hat-tricks, clean sheets, or game-changing saves.[18] While the award can go to either team, selections rarely honor losing players unless their performance was exceptionally influential, reflecting a bias toward match-winners.[11][17] At the FIFA World Cup, the process relies on global fan voting via the FIFA website, opening between the 60th and 88th minutes to allow real-time input on any participating player, including brief substitutes.[17] Sponsored by Budweiser, the award recognizes impactful plays like goals, assists, or defensive heroics that sway the result, though popularity can influence outcomes, with winners predominantly from the winning team except in rare cases of standout individual efforts on the losing side.[17] Following selection, the award is presented post-match, often on the pitch with a ceremonial handover of a sponsored trophy—such as a crystal or branded item—and accompanied by an on-field interview to highlight the player's contributions.[11] Announcements occur via broadcast, official websites, and social media, ensuring wide visibility.[17]Awards and Trophies
In association football, the Player of the Match award is typically presented as a physical trophy immediately following the game, recognizing the standout performer regardless of the team's result. In the Premier League, the award features a distinctive metallic trophy, redesigned in 2016 as a gold-colored brick-shaped object measuring 20cm tall, 6.4cm wide, and 6.4cm deep, which is handed over on the pitch during post-match ceremonies.[19] Similarly, UEFA's Champions League presents an official trophy sponsored by PlayStation, with the UEFA Technical Observer Group selecting the recipient before an on-field handover after each match, including finals.[11] For the FIFA World Cup, the Budweiser Player of the Match award includes a ceremonial presentation. These ceremonies have evolved from simple acknowledgments in the late 20th century to highly commercialized events, with broadcasters and sponsors integrating live interviews and fan interactions directly on the field to enhance visibility.[20] In major finals, the presentation adds prestige, as seen in the 2025 UEFA Champions League final where Paris Saint-Germain's Désiré Doué received the PlayStation Player of the Match trophy for his decisive performance, marking the first such honor for a teenager in a final.[20] Notable recipients include Lionel Messi, who earned the Player of the Match in the 2011 UEFA Champions League final for scoring a crucial goal in Barcelona's 3-1 victory over Manchester United, and Cristiano Ronaldo, honored in the 2017 final for his two goals in Real Madrid's 4-1 win against Juventus—both players have secured multiple such awards across high-stakes matches due to their consistent impact.[21][22] The award occasionally goes to players from the losing side, highlighting individual brilliance; for instance, in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Round of 16, USA goalkeeper Tim Howard was named Player of the Match against Belgium despite a 2-1 defeat, thanks to his 16 saves—a record for the tournament.[23] The concept has progressed from informal post-game nods by commentators in the 1970s and 1980s to standardized, sponsor-driven honors by the 1990s, with women's football following suit—such as in the Women's Super League, where Player of the Match awards are presented after each fixture, contributing to Chelsea Women's six such honors in their first seven games of the 2025-26 season.[24] This commercialization extends to equivalents in the UEFA Women's Champions League, where official Player of the Match trophies are awarded post-match to recognize key contributors in Europe's premier women's club competition.[25]Cricket
Adoption and Usage
The Player of the Match award in cricket was adopted informally during Test matches in the 1950s, with commentators and journalists highlighting standout performers, though official recognition did not occur until the 1980s. It became a standard feature in Test cricket from the mid-1980s, marking a shift to formalized post-match honors for the player deemed most influential across the game. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), the award was introduced immediately upon the format's inception in 1971 and gained prominence during the 1975 Prudential World Cup, where Clive Lloyd received it for his century in the final.[26][27] For Twenty20 (T20) cricket, the award has been integral since the domestic format's launch in 2003 and international debut in 2005, aligning with the fast-paced nature of the game.[28] In usage, the award is typically given at the end of a match to the individual from either team who made the greatest overall impact, such as through a match-winning century, a five-wicket haul, or exceptional all-round contributions, rather than strictly favoring the winning side. In multi-innings formats like Tests, it recognizes cumulative performance across the entire match, though some broadcasters occasionally highlight an "innings player" for standout sessions. The selection process involves a panel of on-air commentators—often former players—evaluating contributions in batting, bowling, and fielding, with input from match referees in ICC events.[29][26] Variations are uncommon but include rare instances of team awards when no single player stands out, such as the entire New Zealand team receiving the honor in the 4th ODI against West Indies on April 3, 1996, for their collective effort in a thrilling 4-run victory after posting 158.[30][31] The International Cricket Council (ICC) and partners like ESPNcricinfo play a key role in formalizing announcements, integrating the award into official match reports and broadcasts to enhance viewer engagement.Records and Notable Performances
In Test cricket, Jacques Kallis holds the record for the most Player of the Match awards with 23, achieved across 166 matches between 1995 and 2013, underscoring his dominance as an all-rounder.[32] Muttiah Muralitharan follows with 19 awards in 133 Tests from 1992 to 2010, primarily through his leg-spin wizardry.[32] These records, tracked by ESPNcricinfo, highlight how sustained all-round contributions often secure the honor in the longest format.| Player | Team | Span | Awards | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 1995-2013 | 23 | 166 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 1992-2010 | 19 | 133 |
| Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 1985-2002 | 17 | 104 |
| Shane Warne | Australia | 1992-2007 | 17 | 145 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | Sri Lanka | 2000-2015 | 14 | 134 |