The first award was given in 2014 to Stefan Johansen,[1] Until 2018, the award was given to only one player, either male or female. In 2015, Ada Hegerberg became the first woman to win the award.[2] Hegerberg has won the award three times (in 2015, 2016 and 2018) and is the only player to win it more than twice.[3] Gullballen has been given out at Norwegian sport award Idrettsgallaen since 2015.