The players who dominated Primeira Liga awards are not just stars — they’re legends tied into the very fabric of Portuguese football. In a league where history, narrative, and passion collide, a few names have risen again and again to claim the limelight, the accolades, and the admiration of fans. Today, DeutKick will take you on a journey through the heroes whose brilliance earned them repeated recognition in Portugal’s top flight, exploring what made them dominant, how they changed their eras, and how their legacies still echo today.
The Landscape of Primeira Liga Awards
Before diving into the dominant names, it’s important to understand which awards matter most in the context of Portuguese football:
- LPFP / Liga Portugal Player of the Year (formerly under CNID): Since 2005–06, this is the main “Best Player of the Season” award for the Primeira Liga.
- Bola de Prata (Silver Ball): Awarded by the newspaper A Bola to the top scorer each season.
- Other monthly or positional awards (e.g. SJPF Player of the Month) also exist, but in terms of prestige and historical weight, the first two matter most.
To dominate in Portugal means not just to shine once — but to do so repeatedly in a competitive, passionate environment where “the Big Three” constantly battle for supremacy.
Repeated Winners of the LPFP / Player of the Year Award
This award (often called “Primeira Liga Player of the Year”) has its official start in 2005–06, with recognition evolving over time under CNID and then under LPFP. Over its history, only a handful have won it more than once — making them true pillars of Portuguese domestic football.
Who has won multiple times?
- Hulk — He became the first player to win the award twice (2011, 2012), anchoring his era at Porto with consistently dynamic performances.
- Jonas — The Brazilian marksman won in 2015 and again in 2016, during Benfica’s strong period domestically.
- Bruno Fernandes — His back-to-back wins came in 2018 and 2019 while wearing Sporting CP’s green and white, before his big move abroad.
- Others with one win — While many legendary names have a single Player of the Year trophy, only those three have successfully repeated it, marking them as standout performers across seasons.
These repeated winners embody consistency, influence, and a capacity to dominate Portuguese football across years—not just flashes of brilliance.
The True Kingmakers: Top Scorers (Bola de Prata)
If the Player of the Year award shows excellence across all facets, the Bola de Prata (Silver Ball) is the pure scoring crown. Dominance here is a clearer measure of direct offensive potency.
Players with the most Bola de Prata titles
- Eusébio (Benfica): 7 titles — the record holder, and still the benchmark for goal-scoring excellence.
- Fernando Peyroteo: 6 titles — a fierce striker whose ratio of goals.
- Fernando Gomes (Porto): 6 titles — bridging eras, combining consistency and longevity.
- Mário Jardel: 5 titles — explosive, ferocious, prolific in his day.
- José Águas: 5 times — an early icon in Benfica’s storied history.
Additionally, several more modern players have multiple wins:
- Jackson Martínez — 3 titles during his Porto dominance.
- Jonas — 2 titles, adding to his Player of the Year success.
- Mehdi Taremi — 2 titles (one shared) in recent seasons.
- Viktor Gyokeres — 2 consecutive Bola de Prata awards (2023–24, 2024–25) as of latest seasons.
The Bola de Prata is a brutal, numbers-driven award: to win it repeatedly you must deliver, season after season.
Why These Players Dominated — And What It Tells Us
What separates a one-time winner from those who dominate? Here are the key factors:
Consistency and durability
To win multiple awards, a player must stay fit, sharp, and relevant across seasons, often through squad changes, coaching shifts, or tactical evolutions.
Club environment & support
All repeat winners were within the Big Three or top-tier clubs in Portugal. A strong team structure, elite teammates, and quality coaching amplify individual impact.
Evolution, not stagnation
Players must adapt: scan defenses differently, find new angles, adjust to new opposition strategies. Those who rest on past glory often fade.
Charismatic leadership & clutch moments
Beyond stats, the aura, the big-game decisiveness, the ability to embody their club’s identity — these intangibles elevate a top scorer to a league legend.
Top 5 Players Who Dominated Primeira Liga Awards
Here’s DeutKick’s spotlight list of the most eminent names who repeatedly etched their names in Portuguese football history:
|
Rank |
Player |
Key Achievements in Portugal |
Legacy Highlight |
|
1 |
Eusébio |
7 Bola de Prata crowns; Benfica icon |
A generational legend whose goal-scoring set the standard |
|
2 |
Fernando Peyroteo |
6 top-scorer awards, peerless goals/game ratio |
A headline in every record book |
|
3 |
Fernando Gomes |
6 scoring titles, longevity |
The keeper of goals across eras |
|
4 |
Mário Jardel |
5 scoring titles with multiple clubs |
Explosive peak, huge impact |
|
5 |
Jonas |
2 Player of the Year + 2 Bola de Prata |
A modern legend in the era of competition |
Honorable mention: Hulk and Bruno Fernandes stand out as the only three-time Player of the Year winners, bridging eras and adding depth to this pantheon.
The Modern Era & Emerging Dominators
In recent seasons, the patterns of dominance have evolved alongside tactical innovations, more international competition, and greater squad fluidity.
- Viktor Gyökeres became a modern dual threat: top scorer (Bola de Prata) and Player of the Year in the same seasons, putting him among the fastest climbers into the “dominator” conversation.
- Mehdi Taremi — his repeated scoring success in Porto shows that the classic striker form still has a place in modern Portuguese football.
- Younger stars will need to replicate consistency over several seasons to reach the ranks of the most dominant.
As the league becomes more competitive and clubs invest further, the bar for “dominating” rises — and that makes future multiple winners all the more prestigious.
Conclusion
Players who dominated Primeira Liga awards are more than name-droppers in a history book — they are the architects of eras, the symbols of excellence, and the heroes fans revisit with reverence. From Eusébio’s seven Bola de Prata crowns to Hulk, Jonas, and Bruno Fernandes carving multiple Player of the Year titles, these names don’t just win — they define.
If you’re hungry for deeper stories — transfer sagas, match breakdowns, or statistical deep dives — DeutKick is here to keep you in the loop. Dive into our other articles, and let’s explore the legends and the rising stars of Portuguese football together.
