all the World Cup man of the match awards & how they're decided

The decision to choose the best player among a minimum of 22 players is often fraught with controversy.

[{"selector":"#anim-3ea9e54f-fe61-4904-a177-6dc3a5c5bdbc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-14017812-1d53-41f8-9f20-d22fa1233318","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 187.88529%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

However, this winter's World Cup saw a few interesting selections during the first round. The tournament's new selection procedure for the award could explain this change

[{"selector":"#anim-6cc76efd-20fa-4214-af0a-da8a72fe948f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-502640d1-d095-4b4d-b2ef-5d7ecd0132bf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 136.08517%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

which also includes the large involvement of fans online. Budweiser's Player-of-the Match trophy is decided by a public vote via the FIFA+ website.

[{"selector":"#anim-5509995d-f740-4415-aa3e-bc25cfa2cafa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83b87575-f951-4eea-8414-464ff8fa416e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 158.27297%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

A window is available between the 60th to the 88th minute of each match for fans around the world to cast their votes for the star player in each match.

[{"selector":"#anim-48372585-466c-4139-948a-b89f28e1262a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02c41cce-9d19-4d6a-8a28-11880e517f9b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 158.27297%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

To vote, users can only cast one vote per match. It is impossible to control whether the fans are watching the games.

[{"selector":"#anim-3c3efa8f-c44f-491f-b461-e37eca084ed6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1db7bce0-1b25-4551-90a3-146bcf3ef47d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 187.88529%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

However, several awards were presented to players who were not as deserving. Here's a look at the man of match winners from the tournament thus far and the merits of each player.

[{"selector":"#anim-2765db35-d42c-4402-9a89-664a7b44d3e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e96ed919-769a-42a9-a93b-cf963cb07fa3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 136.08517%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Valencia was in Qatar to announce himself. Fernebahce's forward thought he had put Ecuador in front after three minutes. But VAR ruled that he was offside.

[{"selector":"#anim-08267032-4903-4bc9-a913-f3c67fbadab8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc9e826d-4525-4315-9bbb-9b07c97852b0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 136.08517%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

He was able to coolly score a penalty in 16 minutes, before scoring a fine header just over half an hour later. Valencia was not able to accept the award

[{"selector":"#anim-2ee91927-a6c0-4b01-bd3d-16b12870fb3d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4e4f976-8bd9-414d-a7f9-fd8a6b60ba87","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 158.27297%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

despite having to leave the game early due to knee problems. Ecuador condemned Qatar for becoming the first host nation to lose its opening game of the World Cup.

[{"selector":"#anim-c751552c-c8ec-46eb-aec2-8081af3a616f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5c0f311-26a9-49fc-9122-737aec6f42eb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 136.08517%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]