Iain Hume became the first of the ISL Golden Ball Winner after his standout 2014 season with Kerala Blasters FC. Since then, the award has recognised the best player from each ISL season
In the first 12 ISL seasons, the Golden Ball was claimed by 12 different players. Sunil Chhetri was the first Indian to win it in 2017-18 and Lallianzuala Chhangte in 2022-23. The other 10 editions have been won by foreign players.
Brazilian playmaker Miguel Figueira is the most recent ISL Golden Ball winner. He won the Golden Ball with East Bengal FC in 2025-26, the same season the club from Kolkata became ISL champions. Prior to him, NEUFC’s Alaaeddine Ajaraie bagged both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot in a record breaking 2024-25 campaign.
Complete ISL Golden Ball Winners List (Clubs & Seasons)
Here is the ISL Golden Ball Winners List with each player’s goals, assists, position and key achievements from their award-winning season:
| Season | Golden Ball Winner | Club | Country | Position | Goals | Assists | Major Team Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Iain Hume | Kerala Blasters FC | Canada | Forward | 5 | 3 | ISL runners-up |
| 2015 | Stiven Mendoza | Chennaiyin FC | Colombia | Forward | 13 | 3 | ISL champions |
| 2016 | Florent Malouda | Delhi Dynamos FC | France | Midfielder | 3 | 3 | Semi-finals |
| 2017–18 | Sunil Chhetri | Bengaluru FC | India | Forward | 14 | 2 | ISL runners-up |
| 2018–19 | Ferran Corominas | FC Goa | Spain | Forward | 16 | 7 | ISL runners-up |
| 2019–20 | Hugo Boumous | FC Goa | France | Midfielder | 11 | 10 | League Winners’ Shield |
| 2020–21 | Roy Krishna | ATK Mohun Bagan | Fiji | Forward | 14 | 8 | ISL runners-up |
| 2021–22 | Greg Stewart | Jamshedpur FC | Scotland | Midfielder | 10 | 10 | League Winners’ Shield |
| 2022–23 | Lallianzuala Chhangte | Mumbai City FC | India | Forward | 10 | 6 | League Winners’ Shield |
| 2023–24 | Dimitri Petratos | Mohun Bagan Super Giant | Australia | Forward | 10 | 7 | League Winners’ Shield |
| 2024–25 | Alaaeddine Ajaraie | NorthEast United FC | Morocco | Forward | 23 | 7 | Playoffs |
| 2025–26 | Miguel Figueira | East Bengal FC | Brazil | Midfielder | 2 | 5 | ISL champions |
1. Iain Hume, Kerala Blasters FC, 2014
Iain Hume was named the first Golden Ball winner in ISL history. The Canadian striker appeared 16 times for Kerala Blasters FC in 2014, netting five times and assisting three. With his eight direct goal contributions, he was one of the top attacking players in the first ISL season.
Hume also played a major role in Kerala Blasters reaching the inaugural ISL final. They lost 1-0 to Atlético de Kolkata, but Hume’s work rate, movement and attacking output earned him the Hero of the League honour.
| Iain Hume 2014 ISL Stats | Record |
|---|---|
| Club | Kerala Blasters FC |
| Appearances | 16 |
| Goals | 5 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Goal Contributions | 8 |
| Team Finish | Runners-up |
| Award | Golden Ball |
2. Stiven Mendoza, Chennaiyin FC, 2015
Stiven Mendoza delivered one of the finest attacking campaigns of the early ISL era. The Colombian bagged 13 goals in 16 games to emerge as the highest goal scorer in the league. He also had three assists, according to ISL’s historical goal-contribution records.
Mendoza came through for Chennaiyin FC when they needed him the most, He scored the late winner in the final against FC Goa to help Chennaiyin clinch their first ISL title. He finished the season with the Golden Ball, Golden Boot and the ISL title.
| Stiven Mendoza 2015 ISL Stats | Record |
|---|---|
| Club | Chennaiyin FC |
| Appearances | 16 |
| Goals | 13 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Goal Contributions | 16 |
| Team Finish | Champions |
| Individual Awards | Golden Ball, Golden Boot |
3. Florent Malouda, Delhi Dynamos FC, 2016
Florent Malouda received golden ball award for the second ISL season with Delhi Dynamos FC. The ex-Chelsea midfielder featured in 16 games and ended with three goals and three assists.
Malouda dictated the play in midfield and guided Delhi to having one of the strongest attacking units in the league. Delhi Dynamos made it to the semi-finals before being knocked out by Kerala Blasters on penalties.
| Florent Malouda 2016 ISL Stats | Record |
|---|---|
| Club | Delhi Dynamos FC |
| Appearances | 16 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Goal Contributions | 6 |
| Team Finish | Semi-finals |
| Award | Golden Ball |
4. Sunil Chhetri, Bengaluru FC, 2017-18
Sunil Chhetri created history in the 2017-18 season when he became the first Indian player to win the ISL Golden Ball. He scored 14 goals and provided two assists in 21 games for Bengaluru FC.
Chhetri scored 10 times during the regular league stage and added four more goals in the playoffs. Bengaluru topped the league table in their first ISL season and reached the final, where Chennaiyin FC defeated them 3-2.
| Sunil Chhetri 2017-18 ISL Stats | Record |
|---|---|
| Club | Bengaluru FC |
| Appearances | 21 |
| Goals | 14 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Goal Contributions | 16 |
| Team Finish | Runners-up |
| Key Record | First Indian Golden Ball winner |
5. Ferran Corominas, FC Goa, 2018-19
Ferran Corominas, commonly known as Coro, was the top scorer in 2018-19 season. The Spanish forward notched 16 goals and 7 assists in 20 games, directly contributing to 23 goals.
Coro also claimed the Golden Ball and Golden Boot for that season. His goals helped FC Goa make it to the ISL final, but Bengaluru FC emerged as the champion. With his goalscoring and creative stats, Coro was the most complete forward in the league at that time.
| Ferran Corominas 2018-19 ISL Stats | Record |
|---|---|
| Club | FC Goa |
| Appearances | 20 |
| Goals | 16 |
| Assists | 7 |
| Goal Contributions | 23 |
| Team Finish | Runners-up |
| Individual Awards | Golden Ball, Golden Boot |
6. Hugo Boumous, FC Goa, 2019-20
Hugo Boumous gave FC Goa another Golden Ball in 2019-20. The attacking midfielder played 15 matches and registered 11 goals and 10 assists, becoming one of the league’s biggest creative threats.
His 21 goal contributions helped FC Goa finish first in the league stage and become the first winners of the ISL League Winners’ Shield. Boumous could create chances, carry the ball and score, which made him difficult for opponents to contain.
| Hugo Boumous 2019-20 ISL Stats | Record |
|---|---|
| Club | FC Goa |
| Appearances | 15 |
| Goals | 11 |
| Assists | 10 |
| Goal Contributions | 21 |
| Team Achievement | League Winners’ Shield |
| Award | Golden Ball |
7. Roy Krishna, ATK Mohun Bagan, 2020-21
Roy Krishna won the Golden Ball after another productive season in India. The Fiji international scored 14 goals and provided eight assists for ATK Mohun Bagan. He played 23 matches during the campaign.
Krishna finished level with Igor Angulo on 14 goals, although Angulo won the Golden Boot under the competition’s tie-break rule. Krishna’s wider involvement in ATK Mohun Bagan’s attacking play saw him pick up the Golden Ball instead. His team ended up as runners-up in the league table and also were defeated in the ISL final by Mumbai City FC.
| Roy Krishna 2020-21 ISL Stats | Record |
|---|---|
| Club | ATK Mohun Bagan |
| Appearances | 23 |
| Goals | 14 |
| Assists | 8 |
| Goal Contributions | 22 |
| Team Finish | ISL runners-up |
| Award | Golden Ball |
8. Greg Stewart, Jamshedpur FC, 2021-22
Greg Stewart’s debut ISL season became one of the best individual campaigns in league history. He registered 10 goals and 10 assists in 21 matches, giving him 20 goal contributions.
Stewart played a huge role in Jamshedpur FC ending up at the top of the league stage and bagging the club’s first League Winners’ Shield. He was involved in nearly half of Jamshedpur’s goals in the campaign and emerged as the biggest creative threat in Owen Coyle’s side.
| Greg Stewart 2021-22 ISL Stats | Record |
|---|---|
| Club | Jamshedpur FC |
| Appearances | 21 |
| Goals | 10 |
| Assists | 10 |
| Goal Contributions | 20 |
| Team Achievement | League Winners’ Shield |
| Award | Golden Ball |
9. Lallianzuala Chhangte, Mumbai City FC, 2022-23
Lallianzuala Chhangte became the second Indian Golden Ball winner after a breakthrough season with Mumbai City FC. The winger scored 10 goals and supplied six assists in 20 matches.
Chhangte was instrumental in Mumbai City’s historic league season. The Islanders garnered 46 points in 20 games to claim the League Winners’ Shield. His displays also won him the AIFF Men’s Player of the Year award.
| Lallianzuala Chhangte 2022-23 ISL Stats | Record |
|---|---|
| Club | Mumbai City FC |
| Appearances | 20 |
| Goals | 10 |
| Assists | 6 |
| Goal Contributions | 16 |
| Team Achievement | League Winners’ Shield |
| Key Record | Second Indian Golden Ball winner |
10. Dimitri Petratos, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, 2023-24
Dimitri Petratos won the Golden Ball after leading Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s attack in 2023-24. The Australian finished with 10 goals and seven assists from 23 appearances.
His 17 goal contributions helped the Mariners to their first League Winners’ Shield. Petratos also featured prominently in leading Mohun Bagan to the ISL Cup final where they were beaten by Mumbai City FC. He was so well balanced between scoring and assisting that he was the linchpin of the team’s offense.
| Dimitri Petratos 2023-24 ISL Stats | Record |
|---|---|
| Club | Mohun Bagan Super Giant |
| Appearances | 23 |
| Goals | 10 |
| Assists | 7 |
| Goal Contributions | 17 |
| Team Achievement | League Winners’ Shield |
| Award | Golden Ball |
11. Alaaeddine Ajaraie, NorthEast United FC, 2024-25
Alaaeddine Ajaraie produced a record-breaking first ISL season with NorthEast United FC. The Moroccan forward scored 23 goals and recorded seven assists in 25 matches. His 30 goal contributions set a new single-season ISL mark.
Ajaraie received both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards. He also found the net in all of his opening eight ISL encounters, becoming the fastest player to reach pick 10 goals in a season. His goals earned NorthEast United a place in playoffs after 4 years.
| Alaaeddine Ajaraie 2024-25 ISL Stats | Record |
|---|---|
| Club | NorthEast United FC |
| Appearances | 25 |
| Goals | 23 |
| Assists | 7 |
| Goal Contributions | 30 |
| Team Finish | Playoffs |
| Individual Awards | Golden Ball, Golden Boot |
| Major Record | 30 goal contributions |
12. Miguel Figueira, East Bengal FC, 2025-26
Miguel Figueira became the latest ISL Golden Ball winner in 2025-26. The Brazilian midfielder added creativity to East Bengal’s midfield, with the official ISL player profile listing two goals and five assists for the campaign.
The more significant was his Golden Ball award for a historic season at East Bengal. The team topped the ISL table with 26 points from 13 games to win its first ever ISL trophy. Figueira was also the first East Bengal sportsperson to bag the ISL Golden Ball.
| Miguel Figueira 2025-26 ISL Stats | Record |
|---|---|
| Club | East Bengal FC |
| Position | Midfielder |
| Goals | 2 |
| Assists | 5 |
| Goal Contributions | 7 |
| Team Achievement | ISL champions |
| Award | Golden Ball |
Which Indian Players Have Won the ISL Golden Ball?
Only two Indian footballers have won the ISL Golden Ball through the 2025-26 season.
| Player | Season | Club | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunil Chhetri | 2017-18 | Bengaluru FC | 14 | 2 |
| Lallianzuala Chhangte | 2022-23 | Mumbai City FC | 10 | 6 |
Chhetri became the first Indian winner in 2017-18 and Chhangte followed five seasons later after helping Mumbai City FC win the 2022-23 League Winners’ Shield.
Players With ISL Golden Ball and Golden Boot in One Season
Only three players have completed the Golden Ball and Golden Boot double in the same ISL season.
| Player | Season | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stiven Mendoza | 2015 | Chennaiyin FC | 13 |
| Ferran Corominas | 2018-19 | FC Goa | 16 |
| Alaaeddine Ajaraie | 2024-25 | NorthEast United FC | 23 |
Ajaraie’s 2024-25 double made him only the third player to achieve the feat after Mendoza and Corominas.
Club With the Most ISL Golden Ball Awards
FC Goa and Mohun Bagan have produced two Golden Ball-winning seasons each, the joint-highest total through 2025-26.
FC Goa’s top scorers Ferran Corominas in 2018-19 and Hugo Boumous in 2019-20. The Mohun Bagan side gave Roy Krishna in the 2020-21 and Dimitri Petratos in 2023-24.
| Club | Golden Ball Awards | Winning Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| FC Goa | 2 | 2018-19, 2019-20 |
| Mohun Bagan | 2 | 2020-21, 2023-24 |
| Kerala Blasters FC | 1 | 2014 |
| Chennaiyin FC | 1 | 2015 |
| Delhi Dynamos FC | 1 | 2016 |
| Bengaluru FC | 1 | 2017-18 |
| Jamshedpur FC | 1 | 2021-22 |
| Mumbai City FC | 1 | 2022-23 |
| NorthEast United FC | 1 | 2024-25 |
| East Bengal FC | 1 | 2025-26 |
Major Records in ISL Golden Ball History
| Record | Player/Team | Stat |
|---|---|---|
| First Golden Ball winner | Iain Hume | 2014 |
| First Indian winner | Sunil Chhetri | 2017-18 |
| Second Indian winner | Lallianzuala Chhangte | 2022-23 |
| Latest winner | Miguel Figueira | 2025-26 |
| Most goals by a Golden Ball winner in one season | Alaaeddine Ajaraie | 23 |
| Most goal contributions by a Golden Ball winner | Alaaeddine Ajaraie | 30 |
| Golden Ball + Golden Boot double | Mendoza, Coro, Ajaraie | 3 players |
| Most Golden Ball-winning seasons by a club | FC Goa, Mohun Bagan | 2 each |
| Different Golden Ball winners | 12 players | 12 seasons |
How ISL Golden Ball Differs From Golden Boot
The ISL Golden Ball and Golden Boot celebrate separate accomplishments. The Golden Ball is awarded to the player deemed the best overall performer of the season. Goals count, but so do assists, creativity, influence and performance overall.
The Golden Boot has a more straightforward objective. It is awarded to the top goalscorer of the season. That means that the likes of Hugo Boumous, Roy Krishna, Greg Stewart and Dimitri Petratos could win the Golden Ball without being the outright Golden Boot winner.
Conclusion: The 12 Players Have Won the ISL Golden Ball Across 12 Seasons
The ISL Golden Ball Winners List has seen 12 different players claim the award across the first 12 seasons. Sunil Chhetri and Lallianzuala Chhangte remain the only Indian winners so far.
The prize has been the domain of leading goal scorers, creative midfielders and players who really made a step change in their side. Golden Ball winners with Alaaeddine Ajaraie having the highest scoring record with 23 goals in 2024-25.
And the focus will shift to the ISL 2026-27 season, which will be kicked off in October 2026. A new season will also bring another race to become the league’s next Golden Ball winner.
