Top 10 players with most Man of the Match awards in World Cup history ft. Modrić, Mbappé & Messi

Despite not having the trophy to their name, some of these names still hold a significant place in the history of the quadrennial mega event.

Football is a team sport, but there are some individuals who deserve recognition. From the World Cup 2002 onwards, FIFA established the man of the match award to highlight such performances. In the past few years, many greats have dominated this award.

Lionel Messi holds the record for most Man of the Match awards during one World Cup. However, today we will take a look at the best players who have won the most Man of the Match awards.

S.No.	Player Name	Nation	Number of MOTM awards
10	Harry Kane	England	4
9	Eden Hazard	Belgium	4
8	Antoine Griezmann	France	4
7	Neymar	Brazil	4
6	Luka Modric	Croatia	5
5	Luis Suarez	Uruguay	5
4	Kylian Mbappe	France	5
3	Arjen Robben	Netherlands	6
2	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	7
1	Lionel Messi	Argentina	12

Top 10 Man of the Match award winners World Cup:

10. Harry Kane (England) – 4 wins

Harry Kane is a legendary figure in English football. Particularly in the Premier League, where he always rose to the occasion. He has taken his career towards the Bundesliga now after moving to Bayern.

The former Tottenham forward is the main striker for the Three Lions at the 2026 World Cup. Is it coming home this time?

9. Eden Hazard (Belgium) – 4 wins

In World Cups, Eden Hazard has been the man of the occasion for Belgium. His four man-of-the-match awards are enough to prove his mettle. A narrow defeat to France in the semis in 2018 led the Belgian forward’s team to third place at the World Cup.

Although Hazard’s career could have been quite different, in a good way, it was never the same after moving to Real Madrid. He officially retired on 10 October 2023, at just 32.

8. Antoine Griezmann (France) – 4 wins

An Atletico Madrid legend who will soon move to MLS side Orlando City has won four of these awards. We are, however, not witnessing his flair this time. The player retired from international football in September 2024.

He enjoyed a good decade with Les Bleus. After 137 matches for France, he scored 44 times over 10 years.

7. Neymar (Brazil) – 4 wins

Carlo Ancelotti naming Neymar in the 2026 World Cup squad was a euphoric moment for fans around the world. The player even cried (a lot) after that announcement.

The Santos star has been part of Brazil squad in four tournaments. Out of the 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 editions, the former FC Barcelona player’s best result was a semi-final appearance (2014). He is yet to win the major trophy.

6. Luka Modric (Croatia) – 5 wins

A part of the golden generation of Croatia, Luka Modric surely deserves those five awards. Modric is one of the greatest midfielders in the sport’s history. He has led a small nation like Croatia to heights never touched before.

Among his most notable World Cup achievements are winning the 2018 Golden Ball and securing two tournament medals [second place in 2018 and third place in 2022]. With his participation in the 2026 edition, he joins an exclusive list of players to compete in five different World Cups (2006, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026).

5. Luis Suarez (Uruguay) – 5 wins

The World Cups and Luis Suarez have an interesting history. Although the Uruguayan has a very good record at this event, his controversial act in the quarter-finals in 2010 often overshadows his achievements. Suarez has played in three World Cups and won awards in all of them.

4. Kylian Mbappe (France) – 5 wins

The Real Madrid star opened his 2026 WC in style. On matchday 6, Mbappe netted a brace in a 3-1 win versus Senegal. His World Cup legacy features a trophy win in 2018, the Golden Boot in 2022, and 14 tournament goals.

Across three tournaments, he has established himself as one of the most prolific and devastating forwards in the history of the sport.

3. Arjen Robben (Netherlands) – 6 wins

During the period 2010-2014, the Dutch national team dominated the world. Arjen Robben was a crucial part of that dominance. Robben completely dominated the World Cups, helping the Netherlands finish second in 2010 and third in 2014.

Even though Robben did not win the trophy, his name will always remain in history.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – 7 wins

Despite Portugal’s poor performance at recent World Cups, Cristiano Ronaldo hasn’t been deterred from giving his all. In the past World Cups, the Portuguese legend has been a dominant force for them, winning seven man-of-the-match awards. Considering that the 2026 World Cup will likely be his last, he would love to achieve another prestigious record.

He collected his 7th man of the match award in the 2022 World Cup opening game against Ghana.

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 12 wins

The Argentine magician’s 2026 World Cup appearance marked his sixth overall at the tournament. He has won 12 Man of the Match awards. In 2022, he found the only piece missing from his silverware collection – the World Cup trophy.

Argentina lost in the finals in 2014, where he was close to achieving his goal. Messi himself won four Man of the Match awards at the 2014 World Cup. Messi won his 7th man-of-the-match award in the FIFA World Cup 2022 group-stage game against Mexico.

The Argentinian star is now on 12 Man of the Match awards after scoring his first WC hat-trick against Algeria yesterday.

**Last updated on June 18, 2026.

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