A Man of the Match award is given to the top performer in any sport. In cricket, it is provided to someone who helped his team win or take the winning position. A MOTM award is always a special landmark for any cricketer. But winning it in the ODI World Cup is extra special.
So far, there have been 12 World Cup editions since 1975. Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the most MOTM awards in international cricket with a total of 72. He has also won the most MOTM awards in ODI World Cup history. This article will cover the list of players with the most MOTM awards in World Cup events.
Most Player of the Match in ODI World Cup
| Player | Span | Mts | MOTM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 1992-2011 | 45 | 9 |
| Glenn McGrath (AUS) | 1996-2007 | 39 | 6 |
| Rohit Sharma (IND) | 2015-2019 | 17 | 5 |
| Viv Richards (WI) | 1975-1987 | 23 | 5 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 1992-2007 | 38 | 5 |
| Graham Gooch (ENG) | 1979-1992 | 21 | 5 |
| Mark Waugh (AUS) | 1992-1999 | 22 | 5 |
| Lance Klusener (SA) | 1999-2003 | 14 | 5 |
| AB de Villiers (SA) | 2007-2015 | 23 | 5 |
| Shane Warne (AUS) | 1996-1999 | 17 | 4 |
5. Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) – 5 MOTM
Former Sri Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya was the Player of the Tournament in 1996 when Sri Lanka won its maiden World Cup title. In his career, he has won a total of five MOTM awards in 38 games. There are seven players with five MOTM awards. Jayasuriya has won these awards against India, England, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and West Indies.
- vs IND in 1996- 79 runs
- vs ENG in 1996 – 72 runs and 2/45
- vs New Zealand in 2003 – 120 runs and 1/32
- vs Bangladesh in 2007 – 109 runs
- vs West Indies in 2007 – 115 runs and 3/38
4. Viv Richards (WI) – 5 MOTM
Legendary West Indian Viv Richards has also won five MOTM awards in World Cup history. He played in four editions between 1975 and 1987 and was one of the reasons that the West Indies won the 1975 and 1983 tournaments. He played 23 games, scored 1013 runs at 63.31, and also took 10 wickets.
- vs END in 1979 – 138* runs
- vs IND in 1983 – 119 runs
- vs AUS in 1983 – 95* runs
- vs PAK in 1983 – 80* runs
- vs SL in 1987 – 181 runs
3. Rohit Sharma (IND) – 5 MOTM
Rohit Sharma is one of the fastest players to win five MOTM awards in World Cup events. One of the reasons was his five centuries in 2019. Rohit has played in the 2015 and 2019 editions and featured in 17 games, scoring 978 runs at an average of 65.20, with six centuries.
- vs BAN in 2015 – 137 runs
- vs SA in 2019 – 122* runs
- vs PAK in 2019 – 140 runs
- vs BAN in 2019 – 104 runs
- vs SL in 2019 – 103 runs
2. Glenn McGrath (AUS) – 6 MOTM
Former Australian pacer and Man of the Tournament in 2007, Glenn McGrath has won six MOTM awards in his World Cup journey. He has played in four editions between 1996 and 2007 and picked up most wickets. McGrath has 71 wickets to his name in just 39 games.
- vs WI in 1999 – 5/14
- vs IND in 1999 – 3/34
- vs NAM in 2003 – 7/15
- vs BAN in 2007 – 3/16
- vs IRE in 2007 – 3/17
- vs SA in 2007 – 3/18
1. Sachin Tendulkar (IND) – 9 MOTM
Just like other records, Sachin Tendulkar is at the top of the list for this one as well. He has won a total of nine MOTM awards in ODI World Cup history and has also played in the joint-most editions. Sachin has played in six editions between 1992 and 2011. He has scored 2278 runs at 56.95, with six centuries and 15 half-centuries.
- vs PAK in 1992 – 54* runs and 1/37
- vs ZIM in 1992 – 81 runs and 1/35
- vs KEN in 1996 – 127* runs and 0/26
- vs WI in 1996 – 70 runs
- vs KEN in 1999 – 140* runs and 0/23
- vs ZIM in 2003 – 81 runs
- vs NAM in 2003 – 152 runs
- vs PAK in 2003 – 98 runs
- vs PAK in 2011 – 85 runs.