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] 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
El Mundo award (1971–1985)
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]
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Unofficial El Mundo award (1986–1992)
El Gráfico award (1980–1983)
From 1980 to 1983 El Gráfico gave out their Footballer of the Americas award.[28]
| Year | Rank | Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1st | Argentina Diego Maradona | Argentina Argentinos Juniors | 485 |
| 2nd | Brazil Zico | Brazil Flamengo | 292 | |
| 3rd | Argentina Ubaldo Fillol | Argentina Argentinos Juniors | 120 | |
| 1981 | 1st | Argentina Diego Maradona | Argentina Boca Juniors | 572 |
| 2nd | Brazil Zico | Brazil Flamengo | 524 | |
| 3rd | Peru Julio César Uribe | Peru Sporting Cristal | 131 | |
| 1982 | 1st | Brazil Zico | Brazil Flamengo | 381 |
| 2nd | Argentina Diego Maradona | Spain Barcelona | 296 | |
| 3rd | Uruguay Fernando Morena | Uruguay Peñarol | 214 | |
| 1983 | 1st | Brazil Sócrates | Brazil Corinthians | 286 |
| 2nd | Argentina Ubaldo Fillol | Argentina Argentinos Juniors | 251 | |
| 3rd | Uruguay Rodolfo Rodríguez | Uruguay Nacional | 144 | |
El País award (1986–present)
From 1986, the South American Footballer of the Year was named by El País.[29]
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Wins by player
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| Player | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil Zico | 3 (1977, 1981, 1982) | 2 (1976, 1980) | |
| Argentina Tevez | 3 (2003, 2004, 2005) | 1 (2015) | — |
| Chile Figueroa | 3 (1974, 1975, 1976) | — | 1 (1977) |
| Argentina Maradona | 2 (1979, 1980) | 2 (1981, 1995) | 1 (1982) |
| Uruguay Francescoli | 2 (1984, 1995) | 2 (1985, 1996) | — |
| Brazil Neymar | 2 (2011, 2012) | 1 (2013) | 1 (2010) |
| Argentina Verón | 2 (2008, 2009) | 1 (2010) | — |
| Colombia Valderrama | 2 (1987, 1993) | — | 1 (1996) |
| Argentina Riquelme | 1 (2001) | 2 (2000, 2008) | 1 (1999) |
| Paraguay Chilavert | 1 (1996) | 1 (1994) | 2 (1997, 1998) |
| Paraguay Romero | 1 (1985) | 1 (1979) | 1 (1986) |
| Brazil Pelé | 1 (1973) | 1 (1972) | — |
| Paraguay Cardozo | 1 (2002) | 1 (2003) | — |
| Uruguay Sanchez | 1 (2015) | 1 (2014) | — |
| Brazil Gabriel | 1 (2019) | 1 (2021) | — |
| Brazil Cafu | 1 (1994) | — | 1 (1993) |
| Argentina Palermo | 1 (1998) | — | 1 (2000) |
| Brazil Romario | 1 (2000) | — | 1 (2001) |
| Paraguay Cabañas | 1 (2007) | — | 1 (2008) |
| Argentina Álvarez | 1 (2021) | — | 1 (2022) |
| Brazil Tostão | 1 (1971) | — | — |
| Peru Cubillas | 1 (1972) | — | — |
| Argentina Kempes | 1 (1978) | — | — |
| Brazil Sócrates | 1 (1983) | — | — |
| Uruguay Alzamendi | 1 (1986) | — | — |
| Uruguay Paz | 1 (1988) | — | — |
| Brazil Bebeto | 1 (1989) | — | — |
| Paraguay Amarilla | 1 (1990) | — | — |
| Argentina Ruggeri | 1 (1991) | — | — |
| Brazil Raí | 1 (1992) | — | — |
| Chile Salas | 1 (1997) | — | — |
| Argentina Saviola | 1 (1999) | — | — |
| Chile Fernández | 1 (2006) | — | — |
| Argentina D'Alessandro | 1 (2010) | — | — |
| Brazil Ronaldinho | 1 (2013) | — | — |
| Colombia Gutiérrez | 1 (2014) | — | — |
| Colombia Borja | 1 (2016) | — | — |
| Brazil Luan | 1 (2017) | — | — |
| Argentina Martínez | 1 (2018) | — | — |
| Brazil Marinho | 1 (2020) | — | — |
| Brazil Pedro | 1 (2022) | — | — |
| Argentina Cano | 1 (2023) | — | — |
Wins by nationality
| Country | Players | Total |
|---|---|---|
| File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil | 14 | 17 |
| File:Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina | 12 | 16 |
| File:Flag of Paraguay.svg Paraguay | 5 | 5 |
| File:Flag of Uruguay.svg Uruguay | 4 | 5 |
| File:Flag of Chile.svg Chile | 3 | 5 |
| File:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia | 3 | 4 |
| File:Flag of Peru.svg Peru | 1 | 1 |
Wins by club
| Club | Players | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina River Plate | 8 | 9 |
| Brazil Flamengo | 3 | 5 |
| Argentina Boca Juniors | 3 | 4 |
| Brazil Santos | 3 | 3 |
| Brazil Internacional | 2 | 4 |
| Brazil São Paulo | 2 | 2 |
| Brazil Vasco da Gama | 2 | 2 |
| Brazil Corinthians | 2 | 2 |
| Argentina Vélez Sársfield | 2 | 2 |
| Brazil Fluminense | 2 | 2 |
| Argentina Argentinos Juniors | 1 | 2 |
| Argentina Estudiantes | 1 | 2 |
| Peru Alianza Lima | 1 | 1 |
| Mexico América | 1 | 1 |
| Brazil Atlético Mineiro | 1 | 1 |
| Colombia Atlético Nacional | 1 | 1 |
| Chile Colo-Colo | 1 | 1 |
| Brazil Cruzeiro | 1 | 1 |
| Colombia Deportivo Cali | 1 | 1 |
| Brazil Grêmio | 1 | 1 |
| Colombia Junior | 1 | 1 |
| Paraguay Olimpia | 1 | 1 |
| Argentina Racing | 1 | 1 |
| Mexico Toluca | 1 | 1 |
| Spain Valencia | 1 | 1 |
Women's awards
El País award (2021–present)
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 | Brazil Tamires | Brazil Corinthians | 30 |
| 2nd | Colombia Catalina Usme | Colombia América de Cali | 29 | |
| 3rd | Brazil Gabi Zanotti | Brazil Corinthians | 20 | |
| 2022 | 1st | Colombia Linda Caicedo | Colombia Deportivo Cali | 76 |
| 2nd | Brazil Bia Zaneratto | Brazil Palmeiras | 21 | |
| 3rd | Argentina Yamila Rodríguez | Brazil Palmeiras | 20 | |
| 2023 | 1st | Brazil Priscila | Brazil Internacional | 34 |
| 2nd | Brazil Millene | Brazil Corinthians | 31 | |
| 3rd | Brazil Bia Zaneratto | Brazil Palmeiras | 23 | |
Wins by player
| Player | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil Tamires | 1 (2021) | — | — |
| Colombia Linda Caicedo | 1 (2022) | — | — |
| Brazil Priscila | 1 (2023) | — | — |
Wins by nationality
| Country | Players | Total |
|---|---|---|
| File:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil | 2 | 2 |
| File:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia | 1 | 1 |
Wins by club
| Club | Players | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil Corinthians | 1 | 1 |
| Colombia Deportivo Cali | 1 | 1 |
| Brazil Internacional | 1 | 1 |
See also
References
- Pierrend, José Luis (16 January 2009). "South American Coach and Player of the Year". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ↑ "South American Coach and Player of the Year". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "Best soccer player in America ("El Mundo" of Venezuela)". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ↑ "El Gráfico Américas player of the year (1980-1983)". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ↑ "Best soccer player in America ("El Mundo" of Venezuela)". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
- ↑ "Best soccer player in America ("El Mundo" of Venezuela)". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1971". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1972". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1973". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1974". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1975". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1976". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1977". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1978". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1979". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1980". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1981". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1982". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1983". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1984". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1985". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1986". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1987". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1988". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1989". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1990". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1991". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ↑ "South American Player of the Year 1992". RSSSF. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ↑ "El Gráfico Américas player of the year (1980-1983)". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
- ↑ "South American Coach and Player of the Year". RSSSF. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
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