title: Portuguese Golden Ball
text: # 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 |
  