FULL LIST: World Cup players with two Man of the Match awards

The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup featured several standout individual performances.

Still, only six players won the Superior Player of the Match award twice before the knockout rounds.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who also has the most goals (six), is among the players to claim the accolade on two occasions.

The other players are from co-hosts USA, Norway, Brazil, Switzerland and England.

The awards underline their influence in helping their countries reach the Round of 32.

As the knockout stage commences on Sunday (today), PidomNigeria Online highlights the players who have won the Superior Player of the Match award twice so far.

Players who won the Superior Player of the Match award twice in the World Cup group stage

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – vs Algeria, vs Austria
2. Erling Haaland (Norway) – vs Iraq, vs Senegal
3. Folarin Balogun (USA) – vs Paraguay, vs Australia
4. Vinicius Junior (Brazil) – vs Morocco, vs Haiti
5. Johan Manzambi (Switzerland) – vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, vs Canada
6. Jude Bellingham (England) – vs Ghana, vs Panama

Players with one Superior Player of the Match award in the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage

1. Julian Quiñones (Mexico) – vs South Africa
2. Hwang In-beom (Korea Republic) – vs Czechia
3. Ismaël Koné (Canada) – vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
4. John McGinn (Scotland) – vs Haiti
5. Nestory Irankunda (Australia) – vs Türkiye
6. Mahmoud Abunada (Qatar) – vs Switzerland
7. Yan Diomande (Côte d’Ivoire) – vs Ecuador
8. Kai Havertz (Germany) – vs Curaçao
9. Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands) – vs Japan
10. Alexander Isak (Sweden) – vs Tunisia
11. Federico Valverde (Uruguay) – vs Saudi Arabia
12. Vozinha (Cabo Verde) – vs Spain
13. Ramin Rezaeian (IR Iran) – vs New Zealand
14. Emam Ashour (Egypt) – vs Belgium
15. Michael Olise (France) – vs Senegal
16. Ali Olwan (Jordan) – vs Austria
17. Antoine Semenyo (Ghana) – vs Panama
18. Harry Kane (England) – vs Croatia
19. João Neves (Portugal) – vs Congo DR
20. Luis Díaz (Colombia) – vs Uzbekistan
21. Ladislav Krejčí (Czechia) – vs South Africa
22. Jonathan David (Canada) – vs Qatar
23. Luis Romo (Mexico) – vs Korea Republic
24. Ismael Saibari (Morocco) – vs Scotland
25. Matías Galarza (Paraguay) – vs Türkiye
26. Deniz Undav (Germany) – vs Côte d’Ivoire
27. Eloy Room (Curaçao) – vs Ecuador
28. Cody Gakpo (Netherlands) – vs Sweden
29. Ayase Ueda (Japan) – vs Tunisia
30. Kevin Pina (Cabo Verde) – vs Uruguay
31. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) – vs Saudi Arabia
32. Alireza Beiranvand (IR Iran) – vs Belgium
33. Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – vs New Zealand
34. Kylian Mbappé (France) – vs Iraq
35. Ibrahim Maza (Algeria) – vs Jordan
36. Cristian Martínez (Panama) – vs Croatia
37. Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) – vs Uzbekistan
38. Daniel Muñoz (Colombia) – vs Congo DR
39. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) – vs Haiti
40. Kerim Alajbegović (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – vs Qatar
41. Mateo Chávez (Mexico) – vs Czechia
42. Thapelo Maseko (South Africa) – vs Korea Republic
43. Nicolas Pépé (Côte d’Ivoire) – vs Curaçao
44. Nilson Angulo (Ecuador) – vs Germany
45. Anthony Elanga (Sweden) – vs Japan
46. Brian Brobbey (Netherlands) – vs Tunisia
47. Arda Güler (Türkiye) – vs USA
48. Aiden O’Neill (Australia) – vs Paraguay
49. Ousmane Dembélé (France) – vs Norway
50. Pape Gueye (Senegal) – vs Iraq
51. Leandro Trossard (Belgium) – vs New Zealand
52. Deroy Duarte (Cabo Verde) – vs Saudi Arabia
53. Álex Baena (Spain) – vs Uruguay
54. Petar Sučić (Croatia) – vs Ghana
55. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) – vs Austria
56. Giovani Lo Celso (Argentina) – vs Jordan
57. Diogo Costa (Portugal) – vs Colombia
58. Yoane Wissa (Congo DR) – vs Uzbekistan

Saheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.

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