The final phase of Clausura 2026 premiered the Player of the Match award, a recognition that the National League implemented for the first time in this edition of the tournament and that will be awarded to the most outstanding footballer in each league match.
The award, common in international tournaments such as the Champions League and the World Cup, represents an advance in the assessment of individual performance in Guatemalan soccer and had its first four winners in the first legs of the quarterfinals played this Wednesday and Thursday.
The four first legs produced high-level individual performances that justified the awards given. Diego Casas He was the one chosen in Marquense after equalizing the score against Xelajú in the 59th minute with a cross shot that left the series tied 1-1, while Janderson Pereira He earned recognition in Cobán Imperial after scoring the second goal against Mixco in the 35th minute, which was the Brazilian’s 127th goal in the National League.
In the Pensive, Agustín Maziero opened the scoring in the 8th minute for Antigua GFC against Comunicaciones in a match that ended 3-2 in favor of the colonials, and Jose Mena He closed the day with the decisive goal in the 72nd minute that gave Municipal a 1-0 victory over Guastatoya at the David Cordón Hichos.
The debut of the Man of the Match award in the National League comes in a quarterfinal phase that has left open series and results with different outlooks for the weekend’s rounds. The recognition will continue to be awarded in the return matches and in the semifinals and final of Clausura 2026, consolidating an initiative that seeks to highlight individual performance in the most important tournament in Guatemalan soccer.
The first winners
- Diego Casas (Marquense) — Marquense 1-1 Xelajú MC
- Janderson Pereira (Cobán Imperial) — Cobán Imperial 2-0 Mixco
- Agustín Maziero (Antigua GFC) — Antigua GFC 3-2 Communications
- José Mena (Municipal) — Guastatoya 0-1 Municipal
The Player of the Match award is here to stay in Guatemalan soccer. Its implementation in the final phase of Clausura 2026 opens the door for this recognition to be extended to future seasons and categories of national football, following the example of the most important tournaments in the world where highlighting individual performance has been key to valuing the spectacle on the field.