Has a footballer ever been sent off but still named player of the match?

History says yes, and the examples are as colourful as they are dramatic. The most recent headline-grabber came in February 2024 when Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon collected a second yellow for kicking the ball away against West Ham – only for the TNT commentary booth to confirm seconds earlier that he had been their man of the match. Harvey Barnes, who came off the bench to score twice in the 4-3 comeback, might have felt equally worthy, but the paperwork had already been filed.

Manchester United have supplied two of the more remarkable tales. In March 2024 Amad Dialla netted a 121st-minute FA Cup quarter-final winner against Liverpool, whipped off his shirt in euphoria and was automatically dismissed for a second booking. The travelling support still voted him player of the match. Rewind to October 2019 and sister-club United: forward Lauren James received two late yellows in a 3-0 WSL victory over Spurs, departing just as the BBC radio team announced her as the afternoon’s outstanding performer.

The FA Cup has previous. In 2006 Chester City’s Lee Steele scored both goals in a 2-2 second-round draw at Bury, then jumped the advertising boards to celebrate and walked early for a second caution. Chester eventually progressed through a replay voided by Bury’s expulsion for fielding an ineligible player, but Steele’s double had already sealed the headlines.

Perhaps the ultimate case of infamy converted into immortality arrived in January 2020. With the Spanish Super Cup final between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid drifting toward penalties, Federico Valverde chopped down Álvaro Morata to deny a clear run on goal. The straight red was inevitable; the trophy, won 4-1 on spot-kicks, followed. Spain coach Luis Enrique, presenting the broadcast award, named Valverde player of the match precisely because of the cynical intervention that preserved Madrid’s hopes. Even Atlético boss Diego Simeone later saluted the Uruguayan’s sacrifice.

Red cards, it seems, are no barrier to post-match silverware when the narrative is irresistible.