Lionel Messi has added another extraordinary achievement to his glittering football career after becoming the first player to win six FIFA World Cup Man of the Match awards in a single tournament.
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. His latest feat sees him surpass his own previous record and further cement his place as the player with the most official FIFA World Cup Man of the Match awards in the tournament’s history.
Despite being in the latter stages of his career, Messi once again demonstrated his exceptional talent, leadership and influence, inspiring Argentina with crucial goals, assists and match-winning displays as the reigning world champions mounted another impressive campaign.
His consistency throughout the tournament set him apart from a host of world-class stars, with England midfielder Jude Bellingham finishing second on the list after collecting four Man of the Match awards.
France captain Kylian Mbappé, Norway striker Erling Haaland and Brazil forward Vinícius Júnior each received three awards, highlighting their significant impact for their respective nations. Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and England captain Harry Kane completed the list with two awards apiece.
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Most Man of the Match Awards
- 🥇 Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 6
- 🥈 Jude Bellingham (England) – 4
- 🥉 Kylian Mbappé (France) – 3
- Erling Haaland (Norway) – 3
- Vinícius Júnior (Brazil) – 3
- Lamine Yamal (Spain) – 2
- Harry Kane (England) – 2
The latest milestone further strengthens Messi’s legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time. With another record-breaking World Cup campaign, the Argentine icon has once again shown why he remains one of the sport’s most influential and celebrated players.
Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of The Accra Daily Mail, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
