CONCACAF Gold Cup Best Player Award Winners (Since 1991)
Is there a Golden Ball in the Gold Cup? What is the best player award in the CONCACAF Gold Cup? Who won the Golden Ball in the CONCACAF Gold Cup? Here we represent the full list of CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Ball Winners for all time since 1991.
Gold Cup Best Player Award
Yes, there is a Golden Ball for the best player of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The award is given since its inaugural edition in 1991. They also award a Golden Boot to the edition’s top scorer. The authority introduced a Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper in 2002. In the very same year, they started awarding the Fair Play Trophy as well. Meanwhile, the latest inclusion is the Goal of the Tournament award introduced in 2021.
CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Ball Winners
| Year | Golden Ball Winner | Nationality |
| 2023 | Adalberto Carrasquilla | Panama |
| 2021 | Héctor Herrera | Mexico |
| 2019 | Raúl Jiménez | Mexico |
| 2017 | Michael Bradley | United States |
| 2015 | Andrés Guardado | Mexico |
| 2013 | Landon Donovan | United States |
| 2011 | Javier Hernández | Mexico |
| 2009 | Giovani dos Santos | Mexico |
| 2007 | Julian de Guzman | Canada |
| 2005 | Luis Tejada | Panama |
| 2003 | Jesús Arellano | Mexico |
| 2002 | Brian McBride | United States |
| 2000 | Craig Forrest | Canada |
| 1998 | Kasey Keller | United States |
| 1996 | Raul Lara | Mexico |
| 1993 | Ramón Ramírez | Mexico |
| 1991 | Tony Meola | United States |
History Of Gold Cup Golden Ball
Tony Meola is the first-ever player to win this award. The US goalie grabbed this award during the tournament’s maiden edition. So far, 3 goalkeepers have won this award. Apart from Meola, the other glovemen to win this award are his compatriot Kasey Keller as well as Canadian keeper Craig Forrest. The latest winner of this award is Houston Dynamo and Panama midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla. Former & current European stars like Javier Hernández, Giovani dos Santos, Andrés Guardado, Raúl Jiménez, etc. all have won it once. US legends Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley too achieved this honor.
So far, players from 4 different countries have won this award. Mexico represents the most number of winners (8). There are 5 winners on this list from the United States. Each of Canada and Panama offers 2 winners. By the way, no player has ever won this award twice to date. Moreover, the Best Young Player award was provided in the 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021 editions. Jesus Corona, Alphonso Davies, Christian Pulisic, as well as Tajon Buchanan had the privilege to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup Best Young Player award.
