ISL: Winners of Golden Ball Award
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The most Prestigious award in the Indian Super League (ISL) is the Hero of the League and the player is awarded with a Golden Ball for displaying an exceptional quality of football in a given season.
In all the past seven seasons of the ISL we have seen seven different players who are present with this honour. Let’s take a look at the winners of the Golden Ball in ISL since the inaugral season.
#1) Iain Hume (Kerala Blasters) – 2014
Iain Hume, the Canadian forward made himself known from the very first match in the ISL. He had an exceptional form in the season and had a major role in Kerala Blasters reaching the finals of the competition in the inaugral season.
Iain Hume was honoured with the hero of the League award in the very first season of ISL as he received the Golden ball after showcassing some quality gameplay, eventhough Kerala lost 1-0 to ATK in the finals.
#2) Stiven Mendoza (Chennaiyin FC) – 2015
Stiven Mendoza, the Colombian was definitely the man of the hour for Chennaiyin FC in ISL 2015. He had an excellent season as he scored 13 goals in 16 matches including the winning goal at the last minute which led Chennaiyin FC to their first ISL title.
He was awarded with Golden Boot Award for scoring the highest number of goals in ISL 2015 and was also honoured with the Golden Ball for his staggering form throughout the season and playing a major role in Chennaiyin’s first ISL win.
#3) Florent Malouda (Delhi Dynamos FC) – 2016
Florent Malouda one of the Marque signings of Delhi Dynamos definitely made his presence felt on the pitch. The French footballer played in the top clubs of Europe including the likes of Lyon and Chelsea.
Malouda scored 3 goals and 5 assists in 2016 as Delhi reached the semis where they lost to Kerala in the Penalties but the game control power of the Frenchmen in the middle of the pitch was at par with none as he was presented with Golden Ball Hero of the Season for the 2016 ISL.
#4) Sunil Chettri (Bengaluru FC) – 2017/18
The Indian National team skipper, Sunil Chettri has definitely made himself known all over the world especially when he comes in comparison with the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Although Bengaluru did not win in the finals of 2017/18 ISL, the top class performance from Sunil Chettri with 14 goals in the campaign earned him the honour of the Hero of the League as he was presented with the Golden Ball.
#5) Ferran Corominas (FC Goa) – 2018/19
Coro signed with FC Goa in 2017 and has shown everyone his ability to strike the ball into the back of the net. He has scored a whooping number of 48 goals in 57 matches during his 3 year stint in Goa.
He won the Golden Boot in 2017 as well as in 2018 and played a major role in taking Goa into the Finals of ISL 2018/19. Eventhough Goa lost in the finals, Coro was awarded the Golden Ball for displaying some world class football in the Indian Super League.
#6) Hugo Boumous (FC Goa) – 2019/20
Hugo Boumous has definitely proved himself to be one of the big stars in the Indian Super League with his exceptional ability to strike the ball. Recently clubs like Mumbai City and ATK Mohun Bagan has paid in crores to sign a record breaking deal with the Frenchmen in the history of ISL.
In 2019 he played a major role in FC Goa’s journey into the semis of the ISL where they eventually ended up losing to Chennaiyin FC in the penalties. Hugo Boumous was honoured with the Golden Ball and named the Hero of the League for the 2019/20 season.
#7) Roy Krishna (ATK Mohun Bagan) – 2020/21
Roy Krishna, the Fijian striker and the captain of ATK Mohun Bagan is one of the most experienced player on the pitch. His eye for goal and his intense ability to control the game from the forward line makes him an exceptional striker.
Roy won the ISL with ATK in 2019/20 and was the highest scorer in the league beside Ogbeche and Valskis with 15 goals. He lead ATK Mohun Bagan into another final into the following year where they succumbed to a 2-1 loss to Mumbai City but that did not stop Roy Krishna from winning the Hero of the League as he was honoured with the Golden Ball for his exceptional performance.
Also Read: ISL: Winners of Golden Glove Award
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Raunak Bose
(485 Articles Published)