The Portuguese Golden Ball (known in Portuguese as A Bola de Ouro) is an annual award given, by Portuguese newspaper A Bola, to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the year in the Primeira Liga. The first winner of the award was Eusébio, in 1991. Initially, it was a career award, but since then, the award was given to the best player in the league.
Format The prize is given out by Portuguese newspaper A Bola to the best player in the Portuguese Liga.
Winners
The award has been presented on 20 occasions as of 2012, with 17 different winners.
Year Winner Country Club Position Sources Notes1991 Eusébio Retired Forward 1992 Vítor Baía Porto Goalkeeper 1993 João Pinto Benfica Forward 1994 Luís Figo Sporting CP Midfielder 1995 Domingos Porto Forward 1996 João Pinto Benfica Forward 1997 Mário Jardel Porto Forward 1998 Mário Jardel Porto Forward 1999 - - - - 2000 Jorge Costa Porto Defender 2001 Erwin Sánchez Boavista Midfielder 2002 Mário Jardel Sporting CP Forward 2003 Deco Porto Midfielder 2004 Adriano Rossato Nacional Defender 2005 Simão Benfica Midfielder 2006 Petit Benfica Midfielder 2007 Ricardo Quaresma Porto Midfielder 2008 - - - - 2009 Lucho González Porto Midfielder 2010 Javier Saviola Benfica Forward 2011 Radamel Falcao Porto Forward 2012 James Rodríguez Porto Midfielder South American hopefuls enter final straight
See also CNID Footballer of the Year SJPF Player of the Month LPFP Primeira Liga Player of the Year
Notes
A. It was a career award. B. In 1999 the Portuguese Golden Ball was not awarded.
References
External links "A Bola" official website