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The number of man-of-the-match awards a player earns over the course of a season can be a good measure of how good he is.
There has been a lot of debate over who is currently the best footballer in the world. The number of man-of-the-match awards a player has received over the course of the season ought to be one of the criteria if it isn't already.
The most prestigious individual honours like the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA Player of the Year Awards give a lot of importance to major trophies won and because of this, a lot of good players who represent smaller teams can get overlooked.
Players should also be judged on the basis of how many games he has individually influenced and the man-of-the-match awards are a good indicator of that.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five players with the most man-of-the-match awards this season.
(Stats courtesy: Whoscored.com)
#5 Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli) - 10
Napoli winger Lorenzo Insigne has had yet another incredible season at individual level and his form has been crucial to Napoli's resurgence in Serie A this season.
Napoli looked set to miss out on a Champions League spot halfway through the season, but after having lost just one of their last 14 matches,.they are sitting second in the Serie A table.
Lorenzo Insigne has been their best player this season and the winger has scored eighteen goals and provided seven assists in Serie A this season.
The Italian international has won 10 man-of-the-match awards and has scored four goals and provided four assists in his last ten appearances, making him one of the most in-form players in Serie A.
#4 Gerard Moreno (Villarreal) - 11
Villarreal centre-forward Gerard Moreno has grown in reputation as one of the best strikers in Spain. Though Villarreal are seventh in the La Liga table, they could yet qualify for the UEFA Champions League if they win the Europa League final against Manchester United.
Moreno has been a force to be reckoned with in both La Liga and the Europa League this season. The 29-year-old has scored 21 goals and provided five assists in 30 appearances in the Spanish top-flight this season.
He has been Villarreal's standout performer and has enjoyed his best season yet in terms of goalscoring. Moreno has won the man-of-the-match awards 11 times in La Liga this term.
#3 Rodrigo De Paul (Udinese) - 12
Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul is on the radar of a number of top European sides. Currently strutting his stuff for Udinese, De Paul is almost certain to be on the move this summer. The attacking midfielder is 26 and deserves to be playing for one of the big European clubs.
Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Leeds United have all been linked with the incredibly talented Argentinian. He has scored nine goals and racked up nine assists in 34 appearances in Serie A this season.
He is an excellent no. 10 whose creativity in the final third and ability to make key passes can be an asset to any side that he chooses to join. Rodrigo De Paul has a lot of flair and his technical proficiency is at par with some of the very best in the business.
He has won 12 man-of-the-match awards in Serie A this term, seven of which have come in his last 10 appearances.
#2 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) - 12
Tottenham Hotspur have had a rather forgettable season. After things spiraled to a point where redemption seemed unattainable, they had to resort to sacking Jose Mourinho from the manager's role. Spurs are now poised to finish outside the top 4 and will be without Champions League football next season.
But Harry Kane has still managed to have a good season at an individual level. The Englishman was in terrific form at the start of the season and has tried his best to keep things happening upfront for Tottenham Hotspur.
Kane has scored 21 goals in the league and is currently the top contender to win the Premier League Golden Boot. He has also provided 13 assists in 32 Premier League appearances and has won 12 man-of-the-match awards.
#1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - 22
Lionel Messi has been unstoppable since the turn of the year and has scored 27 goals and provided nine assists in 28 games across all competitions for Barcelona in 2021. After getting off to an underwhelming start, by his own standards, Lionel Messi turned it up after Christmas and has been going hell for leather ever since.
He has been crucial to Barcelona clawing their way back into the La Liga title race and this is reflected in the sheer number of man-of-the-match awards he has won in the league this season.
Messi has won a whopping 22 man-of-the-match awards this season and that's testament to how he has almost single-handedly turned this season around for the Catalans.
