South American Footballer of the Year
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Carlos_T%C3%A9vez.jpg/139px-Carlos_T%C3%A9vez.jpg)
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]
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.
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.
Year | Rank | Player | Team |
---|---|---|---|
1971[2] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1972[3] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1973[4] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1974[5] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1975[6] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1976[7] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1977[8] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1978[9] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1979[10] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1980[11] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1981[12] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1982[13] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1983[14] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1984[15] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1985[16] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
Unofficial El Mundo award (1986–1992)[]
Year | Rank | Player | Team |
---|---|---|---|
1986[17] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1987[18] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1988[19] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() |
![]() | ||
1989[20] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1990[21] | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1991[22] | 1st | ![]() |
![]()
|
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() | |
1992 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
El País award (1986–present)[]
From 1986, the South American Footballer of the Year was named by El País.[23]
Year | Rank | Player | Team | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|
1986 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
– |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
– | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
– | |
1987 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
– |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
– | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
– | |
1988 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
– |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
– | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
– | |
1989 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
74 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
42 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
34 | |
1990 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
57 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
32 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
25 | |
![]() |
![]() | |||
1991 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
44 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
28 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
23 | |
1992 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
55 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
24 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
20 | |
![]() |
![]() | |||
1993 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
46 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
30 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
28 | |
![]() |
![]() | |||
1994 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
36 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
35 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
22 | |
1995 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
34 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
28 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
24 | |
1996 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
80 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
69 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
41 | |
![]() |
![]() | |||
1997 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
87 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
39 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
37 | |
1998 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
73 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
70 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
63 | |
1999 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
55 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
45 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
42 | |
2000 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
67 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
64 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
53 | |
![]() |
![]() | |||
2001 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
88 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
59 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
41 | |
2002 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
39 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
32 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
30 | |
2003 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
73 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
39 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
33 | |
2004 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
76 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
56 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
37 | |
![]() |
![]() | |||
2005 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
77 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
54 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
37 | |
2006 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
62 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
53 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
50 | |
2007 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
67 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
61 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
57 | |
2008 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
66 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
63 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
47 | |
2009 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
109 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
64 | |
![]() |
![]() | |||
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
52 | |
2010 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
61 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
51 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
47 | |
2011 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
130 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
70 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
33 | |
2012 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
199 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
50 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
21 | |
2013 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
156 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
81 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
79 | |
2014 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
102 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
49 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
30 | |
2015 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
182 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
61 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
23 | |
2016 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
85 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
76 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
50 | |
2017 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
182 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
65 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
46 | |
2018 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
130 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
49 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
40 | |
2019 | 1st | ![]() |
![]() |
168 |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
83 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
40 | |
1st | ![]() |
![]() |
80 | |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
59 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
57 | |
1st | ![]() |
![]() |
59 | |
2nd | ![]() |
![]() |
45 | |
3rd | ![]() |
![]() |
30 |
Wins by player[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Javier_Saviola_-_S.L._Benfica_player.jpg/140px-Javier_Saviola_-_S.L._Benfica_player.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Romario_2015.jpg/180px-Romario_2015.jpg)
Player | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
3 (1977, 1981, 1982) | 2 (1976, 1980) | |
![]() |
3 (2003, 2004, 2005) | 1 (2015) | — |
![]() |
3 (1974, 1975, 1976) | — | 1 (1977) |
![]() |
2 (1979, 1980) | 2 (1981, 1995) | 1 (1982) |
![]() |
2 (1984, 1995) | 2 (1985, 1996) | — |
![]() |
2 (2011, 2012) | 1 (2013) | 1 (2010) |
![]() |
2 (2008, 2009) | 1 (2010) | — |
![]() |
2 (1987, 1993) | — | 1 (1996) |
![]() |
1 (2001) | 2 (2000, 2008) | 1 (1999) |
![]() |
1 (1996) | 1 (1994) | 2 (1997, 1998) |
![]() |
1 (1985) | 1 (1979) | 1 (1986) |
![]() |
1 (1973) | 1 (1972) | — |
![]() |
1 (2002) | 1 (2003) | — |
![]() |
1 (2015) | 1 (2014) | — |
![]() |
1 (1994) | — | 1 (1993) |
![]() |
1 (1998) | — | 1 (2000) |
![]() |
1 (2000) | — | 1 (2001) |
![]() |
1 (2007) | — | 1 (2008) |
![]() |
1 (1971) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (1972) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (1978) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (1983) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (1986) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (1988) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (1989) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (1990) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (1991) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (1992) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (1997) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (1999) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (2006) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (2010) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (2013) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (2014) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (2016) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (2017) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (2018) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (2019) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (2020) | — | — |
![]() |
1 (2021) | — | — |
Wins by nationality[]
Country | Players | Total |
---|---|---|
![]() |
13 | 16 |
![]() |
11 | 15 |
![]() |
5 | 5 |
![]() |
4 | 5 |
![]() |
3 | 5 |
![]() |
3 | 4 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
Wins by club[]
Club | Players | Total |
---|---|---|
![]() |
8 | 9 |
![]() |
3 | 4 |
![]() |
3 | 3 |
![]() |
2 | 4 |
![]() |
2 | 4 |
![]() |
2 | 2 |
![]() |
2 | 2 |
![]() |
2 | 2 |
![]() |
2 | 2 |
![]() |
1 | 2 |
![]() |
1 | 2 |
![]() |
1 | 2 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
1 | 1 |
![]() |
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". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1971". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1972". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1973". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1974". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1975". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1976". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1977". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1978". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1979". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1980". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1981". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1982". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1983". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1984". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1985". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1986". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1987". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1988". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1989". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1990". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Player of the Year 1991". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "South American Coach and Player of the Year". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
External links[]
- South American football trophies and awards
- South American Footballer of the Year winners
- Association football player of the year awards
- Awards established in 1971