South American Footballer of the Year

The Rey de América ("King of America"), often referred to as the South American Footballer of the Year, is an annual association football award presented to the best footballer in South America over the previous calendar year. The award was conceived by Venezuelan newspaper El Mundo, which awarded it from 1971 to 1992. Uruguayan newspaper El País took over from 1986 onwards, and their award was considered official, but El Mundo continued their award until 1992.[1]

Elías Figueroa and Carlos Tevez were each named the South American Footballer of the Year three times in succession, three decades apart.

Originally for the El Mundo award, journalists could vote for any South American and Central American players at any club around the world.[2] From 1986 the El País award became official and only South American players playing in South America were eligible. From 1998, eligibility extended to South Americans playing in Mexico due to the participation of Mexican clubs in the Copa Libertadores.

From 1980 to 1983 the Argentinian newspaper El Gráfico also chose their El Futbolista De América ("Footballer of the Americas"). Any South American player playing the Americas at any point in the year was eligible.[3]

The inaugural winner was Tostão of Cruzeiro. Three players have won the award three times each: Elías Figueroa of Internacional, Zico of Flamengo, and Carlos Tevez of Boca Juniors and Corinthians; Figueroa and Tevez did so in consecutive years. As of 2023, Brazilian players have won the most awards (17), with Argentinian players a close second with 16 wins. Argentine club River Plate have had the most winners with nine awards. The most recent recipient of the award is Germán Cano of Fluminense, who won for the 2023 season.

Winners

edit

El Mundo award (1971–1985)

edit

The award was officially awarded by newspaper El Mundo to the best South American footballer between 1971 and 1985. El Mundo continued their award until 1992, but it isn't considered official.[4][5]

Year Rank Player Team Points
1971[6] 1st   Tostão   Cruzeiro 24
2nd   José Omar Pastoriza   Independiente 21
3rd   Luis Artime   Nacional 19
1972[7] 1st   Teófilo Cubillas   Alianza Lima 41
2nd   Pelé   Santos 32
3rd   Jairzinho   Botafogo 28
1973[8] 1st   Pelé   Santos 54
2nd   Miguel Ángel Brindisi   Huracán 43
3rd   Rivellino   Corinthians 33
1974[9] 1st   Elías Figueroa   Internacional 39
2nd   Marinho Chagas   Botafogo 26
3rd   Carlos Babington   SG Wattenscheid 09 22
1975[10] 1st   Elías Figueroa   Internacional 50
2nd   Norberto Alonso   River Plate 24
3rd   Fernando Morena   Peñarol 23
1976[11] 1st   Elías Figueroa   Internacional
2nd   Zico   Flamengo
3rd   Rivellino   Fluminense
1977[12] 1st   Zico   Flamengo
2nd   Rivellino   Fluminense
3rd   Elías Figueroa   Palestino
1978[13] 1st   Mario Kempes   Valencia 78
2nd   Ubaldo Fillol   River Plate 59
3rd   Dirceu   América 48
1979[14] 1st   Diego Maradona   Argentinos Juniors 80
2nd   Julio César Romero   Sportivo Luqueño 40
3rd   Falcão   Internacional 29
1980[15] 1st   Diego Maradona   Argentinos Juniors 89
2nd   Zico   Flamengo 37
3rd   Waldemar Victorino   Nacional 22
1981[16] 1st   Zico   Flamengo
2nd   Diego Maradona   Boca Juniors
3rd   Júnior   Flamengo
1982[17] 1st   Zico   Flamengo 78
2nd   Falcão   Roma 46
3rd   Diego Maradona   Barcelona 31
1983[18] 1st   Sócrates   Corinthians 59
2nd   Ubaldo Fillol   Argentinos Juniors 30
3rd   Éder   Atlético Mineiro 29
1984[19] 1st   Enzo Francescoli   River Plate
2nd   Ubaldo Fillol   Flamengo
3rd   Ricardo Bochini   Independiente
1985[20] 1st   Julio César Romero   Fluminense
2nd   Enzo Francescoli   River Plate
3rd   Claudio Borghi   Argentinos Juniors

Unofficial El Mundo award (1986–1992)

edit
Year Rank Player Team Points
1986[21] 1st   Diego Maradona   Napoli
2nd   Careca   São Paulo
3rd   Hugo Sánchez   Real Madrid
1987[22] 1st   Carlos Valderrama   Deportivo Cali
2nd   Roberto Cabañas   América Cali
3rd   Antonio Alzamendi   River Plate
1988[23] 1st   Rubén Paz   Racing Club
2nd   Hugo de León   Nacional
3rd   Geovani Silva   Vasco da Gama
  Cláudio Taffarel   Internacional
1989[24] 1st   Diego Maradona   Napoli
2nd   Ruben Sosa   S.S. Lazio
3rd   Bebeto   Vasco da Gama
1990[25] 1st   Diego Maradona   Napoli
2nd   Claudio Caniggia   Atalanta
3rd   René Higuita   Atlético Nacional
1991[26] 1st   Gabriel Batistuta   Fiorentina
2nd   Claudio Caniggia   Atalanta
3rd   Iván Zamorano   Sevilla
1992[27] 1st   Diego Maradona   Sevilla 32
2nd   Bebeto   Deportivo La Coruña 31
3rd   Raí   São Paulo 25

El Gráfico award (1980–1983)

edit

From 1980 to 1983 El Gráfico gave out their Footballer of the Americas award.[28]

Year Rank Player Team Points
1980 1st   Diego Maradona   Argentinos Juniors 485
2nd   Zico   Flamengo 292
3rd   Ubaldo Fillol   Argentinos Juniors 120
1981 1st   Diego Maradona   Boca Juniors 572
2nd   Zico   Flamengo 524
3rd   Julio César Uribe   Sporting Cristal 131
1982 1st   Zico   Flamengo 381
2nd   Diego Maradona   Barcelona 296
3rd   Fernando Morena   Peñarol 214
1983 1st   Sócrates   Corinthians 286
2nd   Ubaldo Fillol   Argentinos Juniors 251
3rd   Rodolfo Rodríguez   Nacional 144

El País award (1986–present)

edit

From 1986, the South American Footballer of the Year was named by El País.[29]

Year Rank Player Team Points
1986 1st   Antonio Alzamendi   River Plate
2nd   Careca   São Paulo
3rd   Julio César Romero   Fluminense
1987 1st   Carlos Valderrama   Deportivo Cali 56
2nd   Obdulio Trasante   Peñarol 27
3rd   José Perdomo   Peñarol 25
1988 1st   Rubén Paz   Racing Club
2nd   Hugo de León   Nacional
3rd   José Pintos Saldanha   Nacional
1989 1st   Bebeto   Vasco da Gama 74
2nd   Mazinho   Vasco da Gama 42
3rd   René Higuita   Atlético Nacional 34
1990 1st   Raúl Vicente Amarilla   Olimpia 57
2nd   Rubén da Silva   River Plate 32
3rd   Leonel Álvarez   Atlético Nacional 25
  René Higuita   Atlético Nacional
1991 1st   Oscar Ruggeri   Vélez Sarsfield 44
2nd   Ramón Díaz   River Plate 28
3rd   Patricio Toledo   Universidad Católica 23
1992 1st   Raí   São Paulo 55
2nd   Sergio Goycochea   Olimpia 24
3rd   Alberto Acosta   San Lorenzo 20
  Fernando Gamboa   Newell's Old Boys
1993 1st   Carlos Valderrama   Junior 46
2nd   Marco Etcheverry   Colo-Colo 30
3rd   Cafu   São Paulo 28
  Freddy Rincón   Palmeiras
1994 1st   Cafu   São Paulo 36
2nd   José Luis Chilavert   Vélez Sarsfield 35
3rd   Gustavo Adrián López   Independiente 22
1995 1st   Enzo Francescoli   River Plate 34
2nd   Diego Maradona   Boca Juniors 28
3rd   Edmundo   Flamengo 24
1996 1st   José Luis Chilavert   Vélez Sarsfield 80
2nd   Enzo Francescoli   River Plate 69
3rd   Ariel Ortega   River Plate 41
  Carlos Valderrama   Junior
1997 1st   Marcelo Salas   River Plate 87
2nd   Nolberto Solano   Sporting Cristal 39
3rd   José Luis Chilavert   Vélez Sarsfield 37
1998 1st   Martín Palermo   Boca Juniors 73
2nd   Carlos Gamarra   Corinthians 70
3rd   José Luis Chilavert   Vélez Sarsfield 63
1999 1st   Javier Saviola   River Plate 55
2nd   Francisco Arce   Palmeiras 45
3rd   Juan Román Riquelme   Boca Juniors 42
2000 1st   Romário   Vasco da Gama 67
2nd   Juan Román Riquelme   Boca Juniors 64
3rd   Óscar Córdoba   Boca Juniors 53
  Martín Palermo   Boca Juniors
2001 1st   Juan Román Riquelme   Boca Juniors 88
2nd   Óscar Córdoba   Boca Juniors 59
3rd   Romário   Vasco da Gama 41
2002 1st   José Cardozo   Toluca 39
2nd   Sergio Órteman   Olimpia 32
3rd   Alejandro Lembo   Nacional 30
2003 1st   Carlos Tevez   Boca Juniors 73
2nd   José Cardozo   Toluca 39
3rd   Diego   Santos 33
2004 1st   Carlos Tevez   Boca Juniors 76
2nd   Javier Mascherano   River Plate 56
3rd   Lucho González   River Plate 37
  Robinho   Santos
2005 1st   Carlos Tevez   Corinthians 77
2nd   Diego Lugano   São Paulo 54
3rd   Cicinho   São Paulo 37
2006 1st   Matías Fernández   Colo-Colo 62
2nd   Rodrigo Palacio   Boca Juniors 53
3rd   Fernando Gago   Boca Juniors 50
2007 1st   Salvador Cabañas   América 67
2nd   Claudio Morel Rodríguez   Boca Juniors 61
3rd   Hugo Ibarra   Boca Juniors 57
2008 1st   Juan Sebastián Verón   Estudiantes 66
2nd   Juan Román Riquelme   Boca Juniors 63
3rd   Salvador Cabañas   América 47
2009 1st   Juan Sebastián Verón   Estudiantes 109
2nd   Édison Méndez   LDU Quito 64
  Humberto Suazo   Monterrey
3rd   Leandro Desábato   Estudiantes 52
2010 1st   Andrés D'Alessandro   Internacional 61
2nd   Juan Sebastián Verón   Estudiantes 51
3rd   Neymar   Santos 47
2011 1st   Neymar   Santos 130
2nd   Eduardo Vargas   Universidad de Chile 70
3rd   Paulo Henrique Ganso   Santos 33
2012 1st   Neymar   Santos 199
2nd   Paolo Guerrero   Corinthians 50
3rd   Lucas Moura   São Paulo 21
2013 1st   Ronaldinho   Atlético Mineiro 156
2nd   Neymar   Santos 81
3rd   Maxi Rodríguez   Newell's Old Boys 79
2014 1st   Teófilo Gutiérrez   River Plate 102
2nd   Carlos Sánchez   River Plate 49
3rd   Leonardo Pisculichi   River Plate 30
2015 1st   Carlos Sánchez   River Plate 182
2nd   Carlos Tevez   Boca Juniors 61
3rd   Miller Bolaños   Emelec 23
2016 1st   Miguel Borja   Atlético Nacional 85
2nd   Gabriel Jesus   Palmeiras 76
3rd   Alejandro Guerra   Atlético Nacional 50
2017 1st   Luan   Grêmio 182
2nd   Paolo Guerrero   Flamengo 65
3rd   Arthur   Grêmio 46
2018 1st   Pity Martínez   River Plate 130
2nd   Juan Fernando Quintero   River Plate 49
3rd   Franco Armani   River Plate 40
2019 1st   Gabriel Barbosa   Flamengo 168
2nd   Bruno Henrique   Flamengo 83
3rd   Giorgian De Arrascaeta   Flamengo 40
2020 1st   Marinho   Santos 80
2nd   Ignacio Fernández   River Plate 59
3rd   Gustavo Gómez   Palmeiras 57
2021 1st   Julián Álvarez   River Plate 59
2nd   Gabriel Barbosa   Flamengo 45
3rd   Gustavo Gómez   Palmeiras 30
2022 1st   Pedro   Flamengo 68
2nd   Giorgian De Arrascaeta   Flamengo 64
3rd   Julián Álvarez   River Plate 34
2023 1st   Germán Cano   Fluminense 167
2nd   Luis Suárez   Grêmio 40
3rd   Nicolás de la Cruz   River Plate 8

Wins by player

edit
Javier Saviola and Germán Cano were the youngest and oldest winners at age 18 and age 35, respectively.
Player 1st 2nd 3rd
  Zico 3 (1977, 1981, 1982) 2 (1976, 1980)
  Tevez 3 (2003, 2004, 2005) 1 (2015)
  Figueroa 3 (1974, 1975, 1976) 1 (1977)
  Maradona 2 (1979, 1980) 2 (1981, 1995) 1 (1982)
  Francescoli 2 (1984, 1995) 2 (1985, 1996)
  Neymar 2 (2011, 2012) 1 (2013) 1 (2010)
  Verón 2 (2008, 2009) 1 (2010)
  Valderrama 2 (1987, 1993) 1 (1996)
  Riquelme 1 (2001) 2 (2000, 2008) 1 (1999)
  Chilavert 1 (1996) 1 (1994) 2 (1997, 1998)
  Romero 1 (1985) 1 (1979) 1 (1986)
  Pelé 1 (1973) 1 (1972)
  Cardozo 1 (2002) 1 (2003)
  Sanchez 1 (2015) 1 (2014)
  Gabriel 1 (2019) 1 (2021)
  Cafu 1 (1994) 1 (1993)
  Palermo 1 (1998) 1 (2000)
  Romario 1 (2000) 1 (2001)
  Cabañas 1 (2007) 1 (2008)
  Álvarez 1 (2021) 1 (2022)
  Tostão 1 (1971)
  Cubillas 1 (1972)
  Kempes 1 (1978)
  Sócrates 1 (1983)
  Alzamendi 1 (1986)
  Paz 1 (1988)
  Bebeto 1 (1989)
  Amarilla 1 (1990)
  Ruggeri 1 (1991)
  Raí 1 (1992)
  Salas 1 (1997)
  Saviola 1 (1999)
  Fernández 1 (2006)
  D'Alessandro 1 (2010)
  Ronaldinho 1 (2013)
  Gutiérrez 1 (2014)
  Borja 1 (2016)
  Luan 1 (2017)
  Martínez 1 (2018)
  Marinho 1 (2020)
  Pedro 1 (2022)
  Cano 1 (2023)

Wins by nationality

edit
Country Players Total
  Brazil 14 17
  Argentina 12 16
  Paraguay 5 5
  Uruguay 4 5
  Chile 3 5
  Colombia 3 4
  Peru 1 1

Wins by club

edit
Club Players Total
  River Plate 8 9
  Flamengo 3 5
  Boca Juniors 3 4
  Santos 3 3
  Internacional 2 4
  São Paulo 2 2
  Vasco da Gama 2 2
  Corinthians 2 2
  Vélez Sársfield 2 2
  Fluminense 2 2
  Argentinos Juniors 1 2
  Estudiantes 1 2
  Alianza Lima 1 1
  América 1 1
  Atlético Mineiro 1 1
  Atlético Nacional 1 1
  Colo-Colo 1 1
  Cruzeiro 1 1
  Deportivo Cali 1 1
  Grêmio 1 1
  Junior 1 1
  Olimpia 1 1
  Racing 1 1
  Toluca 1 1
  Valencia 1 1

Women's awards

edit

El País award (2021–present)

edit

From 2021, the South American Footballer of the Year was named by El País, with the accolade being named Reina de América.

Year Rank Player Team Points
2021 1st   Tamires   Corinthians 30
2nd   Catalina Usme   América de Cali 29
3rd   Gabi Zanotti   Corinthians 20
2022 1st   Linda Caicedo   Deportivo Cali 76
2nd   Bia Zaneratto   Palmeiras 21
3rd   Yamila Rodríguez   Palmeiras 20
2023 1st   Priscila   Internacional 34
2nd   Millene   Corinthians 31
3rd   Bia Zaneratto   Palmeiras 23

Wins by player

edit
 
Tamires was the first winner of the accolade in women's football in 2021.
Player 1st 2nd 3rd
  Tamires 1 (2021)
  Linda Caicedo 1 (2022)
  Priscila 1 (2023)

Wins by nationality

edit
Country Players Total
  Brazil 2 2
  Colombia 1 1

Wins by club

edit
Club Players Total
  Corinthians 1 1
  Deportivo Cali 1 1
  Internacional 1 1

See also

edit

References

edit
  • Pierrend, José Luis (16 January 2009). "South American Coach and Player of the Year". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  1. ^ "South American Coach and Player of the Year". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Best soccer player in America ("El Mundo" of Venezuela)". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  3. ^ "El Gráfico Américas player of the year (1980-1983)". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Best soccer player in America ("El Mundo" of Venezuela)". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Best soccer player in America ("El Mundo" of Venezuela)". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  6. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1971". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  7. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1972". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  8. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1973". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  9. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1974". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  10. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1975". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  11. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1976". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  12. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1977". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  13. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1978". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  14. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1979". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  15. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1980". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  16. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1981". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  17. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1982". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  18. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1983". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  19. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1984". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  20. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1985". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  21. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1986". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  22. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1987". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  23. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1988". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  24. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1989". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  25. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1990". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  26. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1991". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  27. ^ "South American Player of the Year 1992". RSSSF. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  28. ^ "El Gráfico Américas player of the year (1980-1983)". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  29. ^ "South American Coach and Player of the Year". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
edit