South American Footballer of the Year

The Rey del Fútbol de América ("King of Football 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 the 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 players at any club around the world, but 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").[2]

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 2021, Brazilian players have won the most awards (16), with Argentinian players a close second with 15 wins. Argentine club River Plate have had the most winners with nine awards. The most recent recipient of the award is Julián Álvarez of River Plate, who won in the 2021 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.[3]

Year Rank Player Team Points
1971[4] 1st Tostão Cruzeiro –
2nd José Omar Pastoriza Independiente –
3rd Luis Artime Nacional –
1972[5] 1st Teófilo Cubillas Alianza Lima –
2nd Pelé Santos –
3rd Jairzinho Botafogo –
1973[6] 1st Pelé Santos –
2nd Miguel Ángel Brindisi Huracán –
3rd Rivellino Corinthians –
1974[7] 1st Elías Figueroa Internacional –
2nd Marinho Chagas Botafogo –
3rd Carlos Babington SG Wattenscheid 09 –
1975[8] 1st Elías Figueroa Internacional 50
2nd Norberto Alonso River Plate 24
3rd Fernando Morena Peñarol 23
1976[9] 1st Elías Figueroa Internacional –
2nd Zico Flamengo –
3rd Rivellino Fluminense –
1977[10] 1st Zico Flamengo –
2nd Rivellino Fluminense –
3rd Elías Figueroa Palestino –
1978[11] 1st Mario Kempes Valencia 78
2nd Ubaldo Fillol River Plate 59
3rd Dirceu América 48
1979[12] 1st Diego Maradona Argentinos Juniors 80
2nd Julio César Romero Sportivo Luqueño 40
3rd Falcão Internacional 29
1980[13] 1st Diego Maradona Argentinos Juniors 89
2nd Zico Flamengo 37
3rd Waldemar Victorino Nacional 22
1981[14] 1st Zico Flamengo –
2nd Diego Maradona Boca Juniors –
3rd Júnior Flamengo –
1982[15] 1st Zico Flamengo 78
2nd Falcão Roma 46
3rd Diego Maradona Barcelona 31
1983[16] 1st Sócrates Corinthians –
2nd Ubaldo Fillol Argentinos Juniors –
3rd Éder Atlético Mineiro –
1984[17] 1st Enzo Francescoli River Plate –
2nd Ubaldo Fillol Flamengo –
3rd Ricardo Bochini Independiente –
1985[18] 1st Julio César Romero Fluminense –
2nd Enzo Francescoli River Plate –
3rd Claudio Borghi Argentinos Juniors –

Unofficial El Mundo award (1986–1992)
Year Rank Player Team Points
1986[19] 1st Diego Maradona Napoli –
2nd Careca São Paulo –
3rd Hugo Sánchez Real Madrid –
1987[20] 1st Carlos Valderrama Deportivo Cali –
2nd Roberto Cabañas América Cali –
3rd Antonio Alzamendi River Plate –
1988[21] 1st Rubén Paz Racing Club –
2nd Hugo de León Nacional –
3rd Geovani Silva Vasco da Gama –
Cláudio Taffarel Internacional –
1989[22] 1st Diego Maradona Napoli –
2nd Ruben Sosa S.S. Lazio –
3rd Bebeto Vasco da Gama –
1990[23] 1st Diego Maradona Napoli –
2nd Claudio Caniggia Atalanta –
3rd René Higuita Atlético Nacional –
1991[24] 1st Gabriel Batistuta Fiorentina –
2nd Claudio Caniggia Atalanta –
3rd Iván Zamorano Sevilla –
1992 1st Diego Maradona Sevilla 32
2nd Bebeto Deportivo La Coruña 31
3rd Raí São Paulo 25

El Gráfico award (1980–1983)

From 1980 to 1983 El Gráfico gave out their Footballer of the Americas award.[25]

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)

From 1986, the South American Footballer of the Year was named by El País.[26]

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

Wins by player
Javier Saviola and Romário were the youngest and oldest winners at age 18 and age 34, 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)—
Cafu 1 (1994)—1 (1993)
Palermo 1 (1998)—1 (2000)
Romario 1 (2000)—1 (2001)
Cabañas 1 (2007)—1 (2008)
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)——
Gabriel 1 (2019)——
Marinho 1 (2020)——
Álvarez 1 (2021)——

Wins by nationality
Country Players Total
 Brazil 13 16
 Argentina 11 15
 Paraguay 5 5
 Uruguay 4 5
 Chile 3 5
 Colombia 3 4
 Peru 1 1

Wins by club
Club Players Total
River Plate 89
Boca Juniors 34
Santos 33
Flamengo 24
Internacional 24
Corinthians 22
São Paulo 22
Vasco da Gama 22
Vélez Sársfield 22
Fluminense 12
Argentinos Juniors 12
Estudiantes 12
Alianza Lima 11
América 11
Atlético Mineiro 11
Atlético Nacional 11
Colo-Colo 11
Cruzeiro 11
Deportivo Cali 11
Grêmio 11
Junior 11
Olimpia 11
Racing 11
Toluca 11
Valencia 11

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.
  1. "South American Coach and Player of the Year". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  2. "El Gráfico Américas player of the year (1980-1983)". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  3. "Best soccer player in America ("El Mundo" of Venezuela)". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
  4. "South American Player of the Year 1971". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  5. "South American Player of the Year 1972". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  6. "South American Player of the Year 1973". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  7. "South American Player of the Year 1974". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  8. "South American Player of the Year 1975". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  9. "South American Player of the Year 1976". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  10. "South American Player of the Year 1977". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  11. "South American Player of the Year 1978". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  12. "South American Player of the Year 1979". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  13. "South American Player of the Year 1980". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  14. "South American Player of the Year 1981". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  15. "South American Player of the Year 1982". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  16. "South American Player of the Year 1983". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  17. "South American Player of the Year 1984". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  18. "South American Player of the Year 1985". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  19. "South American Player of the Year 1986". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  20. "South American Player of the Year 1987". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  21. "South American Player of the Year 1988". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  22. "South American Player of the Year 1989". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  23. "South American Player of the Year 1990". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  24. "South American Player of the Year 1991". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  25. "El Gráfico Américas player of the year (1980-1983)". BigSoccer Forum. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  26. "South American Coach and Player of the Year". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
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