Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Jude Bellingham: How Fifa’s bewildering World Cup award has distorted reality

It was a picture that left a thousand words unsaid. Had Casemiro, smiling widely with both hands on the trophy, been covered in Jude Bellingham’s honesty cloak, the post-match interview may have seen the Brazil midfielder explain why he did not deserve the gong.

He was neither the first nor last peculiar selection for the ‘Superior Player of the Match’ at this World Cup 2026 but the decision to place him on a pedestal after Monday’s anxious, unconvincing win against Japan was certainly the oddest.

Only Lucas Paqueta’s hamstring twinge may have saved Casemiro from being hooked at the interval for the second time in this tournament following a 45-minute spell in which he allowed Kaishu Sano to put Japan in front, collided with Paqueta and Matheus Cunha - yes, his teammates - in farcical fashion, and puffed around uncomfortably as a sad caricature of his former self.

That he headed in the equaliser was no doubt redemptive but what preceded it was a catalogue of errors to make pub players blush; although Casemiro still appeared delighted when talking about the importance of mindset and spirit as he grasped the award.

Other bewildering nominations have followed. Cristiano Ronaldo was hailed for his role in Portugal’s nerve-shredding victory against Croatia in Toronto despite his only registered touch in the box being the penalty to equalise before he was substituted.

Handing the award to Lamine Yamal after Spain collectively hammered Austria 3-0 jarred too considering Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice and Marc Cucurella provided another pair of assists - even if Yamal’s series of nutmegs were quite fun.

Then there was Bellingham, who at least had the humility to admit that he was not worthy of his prize after the insipid draw against Ghana. "I didn't deserve it, to be honest," he said. "It should have gone to one of their lads who defended so well. I had a couple of moments, it was hard to get into the game and I'm grateful for whoever voted, but it should've gone to one of their lads.”

The problem is the decision is made by fans at home, voting early and often online, which makes what used to be a gesture cherished by players readily open to be hijacked for japes. Many will have voted for Casemiro as a bit of a laugh following his nightmare start; meeting misdemeanours with mockery.

But more commonly it is serving as another example of how football is becoming an individualised spectacle more than a team sport. Making this a popularity contest serves only to enhance the stock of star players, activating their social media stans to dig deeper into the weird, skewered concept of modern fandom.

How else can one explain Lionel Messi winning the prize instead of a number of Cape Verde’s heroes in the early hours of Saturday morning? “It was hard work,” Messi said. Maybe because his opponents delivered the match of their lives.

That followed Mohamed Salah, who was anonymous for large spells, being given his second player of the match award of the tournament after Egypt’s dour shootout win against Australia where he spurned a marvelous chance to win it in extra-time with his only notable moment the nonchalant penalty kick.

Later on it was Luis Diaz who got the prize for Colombia. He was very good but it still felt pre-ordained.

Fifa have had a similar process in the previous two World Cups, framed as a way for fans to feel more engaged, but this summer it feels more overt and egregious. Such an approach has long been prevalent in American sport, which is perhaps why no one is batting an eyelid.

Take the NBA’s All-Star Game, where a public vote goes a long way to deciding who makes up each team.

Again, it favours the big names for the teams with big followings, occasionally obscuring the path for more deserving candidates.

But there is a cautionary tale here too that football must be mindful of because the NBA’s ASG presents a huge financial incentive, with contracts featuring major bonuses and an acceptance that players are able to demand additional millions when it comes to future negotiations.

Lamine Yamal takes the honours as your Superior Player of the Match.

#FIFAWorldCup#SuperiorPOTMpic.twitter.com/c2OtG1P7AD

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 2, 2026

All of it prompts another reason to believe that the ladders are being drawn up, the elite are widening their gap - which actually jars quite a lot with how, despite such clear pre-tournament doubts, the expanded format has allowed smaller nations to flourish.

Cape Verde’s goalkeeper Vozinha or full-back Sidny Lopes Cabral, scorer of their stupendous second equaliser against Argentina, were more deserving than Messi on Saturday morning.

They would have cherished that prize forever. Instead it went to the biggest name after a match in which his team were almost dealt a crushing embarrassment.

But what is the weight of objectivity really in an era when content is king, engagement is the currency and footballing reality is willingly being distorted for hits and dollars?

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