The　Matthew　effect　is　widely　used　by　researchers　across　disciplines.　However,　few　studies　have　focused　on　this　effect’s　magnitude　variation　on　the　background　of　the　open　access　movement　and　expanded　avenues　to　obtain　information.　Citation　is　the　most　widespread　and　basic　form　of　scholarly　recognition　in　the　reward　system　of　science,　therefore,　scientists　are　motivated　to　refer　to　the　work　of　their　peers　where　reference　is　due.　This　study　assumes　that　the　Matthew　effect　may　not　play　a　major　role　in　science　anymore　and　uses　citations　as　a　proxy　to　measure　this　effect,　and　calculates　the　citation　fluctuation　of　Noble　Laureates’　key　publications　before　and　after　winning　the　award　during　1901–2016.　The　results　show　that　the　coefficient　of　variation　of　citations　is　smaller　for　publications　published　after　1980　than　for　those　published　before.　The　median　of　citations　in　chemistry　is　higher　than　that　for　in　physics,　physiology,　or　medicine.　Additionally,　over　90%　of　publications　published　after　1980　were　recognized　by　their　community　pre-award,　while　the　ratio　consisted　of　84%　and　75%　for　1940–1980　and　1900–1940,　respectively.　Furthermore,　the　time　range　between　publication　and　year　awarded　plays　a　role　in　this　phenomenon.　The　study　suggests　a　potential　magnitude　decrease　in　the　Matthew　effect,　which　is　a　reminder　that　most　researchers　nowadays　will　recognize　the　importance　of　scientific　breakthrough　in　its　early　stage.　©　2023,　Akadémiai　Kiadó,　Budapest,　Hungary.