Portuguese Golden Ball
# Portuguese Golden Ball

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 |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1991 | Eusébio | Portugal | Retired | Forward |
| 1992 | Vítor Baía | Portugal | Porto | Goalkeeper |
| 1993 | João Pinto | Portugal | Benfica | Forward |
| 1994 | Luís Figo | Portugal | Sporting CP | Midfielder |
| 1995 | Domingos | Portugal | Porto | Forward |
| 1996 | João Pinto | Portugal | Benfica | Forward |
| 1997 | Mário Jardel | Brazil | Porto | Forward |
| 1998 | Mário Jardel | Brazil | Porto | Forward |
| 1999 | - | - | - | - |
| 2000 | Jorge Costa | Portugal | Porto | Defender |
| 2001 | Erwin Sánchez | Bolivia | Boavista | Midfielder |
| 2002 | Mário Jardel | Brazil | Sporting CP | Forward |
| 2003 | Deco | Brazil | Porto | Midfielder |
| 2004 | Adriano Rossato | Brazil | Nacional | Defender |
| 2005 | Simão | Portugal | Benfica | Midfielder |
| 2006 | Petit | Portugal | Benfica | Midfielder |
| 2007 | Ricardo Quaresma | Portugal | Porto | Midfielder |
| 2008 | - | - | - | - |
| 2009 | Lucho González | Argentina | Porto | Midfielder |
| 2010 | Javier Saviola | Argentina | Benfica | Forward |
| 2011 | Radamel Falcao | Colombia | Porto | Forward |
| 2012 | James Rodríguez | Colombia | Porto | Midfielder |
