<Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (August 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed . (August 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> In sports, a most valuable player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best - performing player (or players) in an entire league, for a particular competition, or on a specific team . Initially used in professional sports, the term is now also commonly used in amateur sports, as well as in other completely unrelated fields such as business and music . In many sports, MVP awards are presented for a specific match--in other words, a man of the match award . </P> <P> The term is most common in the United States and Canada . In other cases, "player of the year" is used . In Australia, Australian rules football clubs and leagues use the term "best and fairest", while those playing rugby league use "player of the year", such as the Dally M Medal . The National Basketball League, however, uses the American - style "MVP" for its awards . Insofar as there is a distinction between an MVP and a player of the year, a "player of the year" describes the greatest individual talent, while a "most valuable player" is a person most responsible for their team's success . </P>

What does it mean to be the most valuable player