PURPOSE: To provide the bearing material having excellent wear resistance and lubricity.

CONSTITUTION: Mesopitch carbon fibers formed by using mesophase pitch as a raw material subjecting this raw material to a graphitization treatment by heating at ≥150°C are used for a part or the whole of the carbon fibers of the bearing material formed by compositing the discontinuous carbon fibers into a metallic matrix. Since the mesophase pitch carbon fibers having a high degree of graphitization and orientability are used for the carbon fibers, the graphite films are uniformly formed on a sliding surfaces and the excellent wear resistance and lubricity are obtd.