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.
Originally for the El Mundo award, journalists could vote for any South American and Central American players at any club around the world. 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.
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 2025, Brazilian players have won the most awards (18), 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 Giorgian de Arrascaeta, playing for Flamengo in 2025.
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 may not considered official. It was open to any South American player, no matter where they play.
YearRankPlayerClubPoints1971 1st Tostão Cruzeiro24 2nd José Pastoriza Independiente21 3rd Luis Artime Nacional191972 1st Teófilo Cubillas Alianza Lima41 2nd Pelé Santos32 3rd Jairzinho Botafogo281973 1st Pelé Santos54 2nd Miguel Ángel Brindisi Huracán43 3rd Rivellino Corinthians331974 1st Elías Figueroa Internacional39 2nd Marinho Chagas Botafogo26 3rd Carlos Babington SG Wattenscheid 09221975 1st Elías Figueroa Internacional50 2nd Norberto Alonso River Plate24 3rd Fernando Morena Peñarol231976 1st Elías Figueroa Internacional– 2nd Zico Flamengo– 3rd Rivellino Fluminense–1977 1st Zico Flamengo– 2nd Rivellino Fluminense– 3rd Elías Figueroa Palestino–1978 1st Mario Kempes Valencia78 2nd Ubaldo Fillol River Plate59 3rd Dirceu América481979 1st Diego Maradona Argentinos Juniors80 2nd Romerito Sportivo Luqueño40 3rd Falcão Internacional291980 1st Diego Maradona Argentinos Juniors89 2nd Zico Flamengo37 3rd Waldemar Victorino Nacional221981 1st Zico Flamengo– 2nd Diego Maradona Boca Juniors– 3rd Júnior Flamengo–1982 1st Zico Flamengo78 2nd Falcão Roma46 3rd Diego Maradona Barcelona311983 1st Sócrates Corinthians59 2nd Ubaldo Fillol Argentinos Juniors30 3rd Éder Atlético Mineiro291984 1st Enzo Francescoli River Plate– 2nd Ubaldo Fillol Flamengo– 3rd Ricardo Bochini Independiente–1985 1st Romerito Fluminense– 2nd Enzo Francescoli River Plate– 3rd Claudio Borghi Argentinos Juniors–
Unofficial El Mundo award (1986–1992)
YearRankPlayerClubPoints1986 1st Diego Maradona Napoli– 2nd Careca São Paulo– 3rd Hugo Sánchez Real Madrid–1987 1st Carlos Valderrama Deportivo Cali– 2nd Roberto Cabañas América Cali– 3rd Antonio Alzamendi River Plate–1988 1st Rubén Paz Racing Club– 2nd Hugo de León Nacional– 3rd Geovani Silva Vasco da Gama– Cláudio Taffarel Internacional–1989 1st Diego Maradona Napoli– 2nd Ruben Sosa Lazio– 3rd Bebeto Vasco da Gama–1990 1st Diego Maradona Napoli– 2nd Claudio Caniggia Atalanta– 3rd René Higuita Atlético Nacional–1991 1st Gabriel Batistuta Fiorentina– 2nd Claudio Caniggia Atalanta– 3rd Iván Zamorano Sevilla–1992 1st Diego Maradona Sevilla32 2nd Bebeto Deportivo La Coruña31 3rd Raí São Paulo25
El Gráfico award (1980–1983) From 1980 to 1983 El Gráfico gave out their Footballer of the Americas award. YearRankPlayerClubPoints1980 1st Diego Maradona Argentinos Juniors485 2nd Zico Flamengo292 3rd Ubaldo Fillol Argentinos Juniors1201981 1st Diego Maradona Boca Juniors572 2nd Zico Flamengo524 3rd Julio César Uribe Sporting Cristal1311982 1st Zico Flamengo381 2nd Diego Maradona Barcelona296 3rd Fernando Morena Peñarol2141983 1st Sócrates Corinthians286 2nd Ubaldo Fillol Argentinos Juniors251 3rd Rodolfo Rodríguez Nacional144
El País award (1986–present)
From 1986, the South American Footballer of the Year was named by El País. Only South American players of South American clubs are eligible.
YearRankPlayerClubPoints1986 1st Antonio Alzamendi River Plate– 2nd Careca São Paulo– 3rd Romerito Fluminense–1987 1st Carlos Valderrama Deportivo Cali56 2nd Obdulio Trasante Peñarol27 3rd José Perdomo Peñarol251988 1st Rubén Paz Racing Club– 2nd Hugo de León Nacional– 3rd José Pintos Saldanha Nacional–1989 1st Bebeto Vasco da Gama74 2nd Mazinho Vasco da Gama42 3rd René Higuita Atlético Nacional341990 1st Raúl Vicente Amarilla Olimpia57 2nd Rubén da Silva River Plate32 3rd Leonel Álvarez Atlético Nacional25 René Higuita Atlético Nacional1991 1st Oscar Ruggeri Vélez Sarsfield44 2nd Ramón Díaz River Plate28 3rd Patricio Toledo Universidad Católica231992 1st Raí São Paulo55 2nd Sergio Goycochea Olimpia24 3rd Alberto Acosta San Lorenzo20 Fernando Gamboa Newell's Old Boys1993 1st Carlos Valderrama Junior46 2nd Marco Etcheverry Colo-Colo30 3rd Cafu São Paulo28 Freddy Rincón Palmeiras1994 1st Cafu São Paulo36 2nd José Luis Chilavert Vélez Sarsfield35 3rd Gustavo Adrián López Independiente221995 1st Enzo Francescoli River Plate34 2nd Diego Maradona Boca Juniors28 3rd Edmundo Flamengo241996 1st José Luis Chilavert Vélez Sarsfield80 2nd Enzo Francescoli River Plate69 3rd Ariel Ortega River Plate41 Carlos Valderrama Junior1997 1st Marcelo Salas River Plate87 2nd Nolberto Solano Sporting Cristal39 3rd José Luis Chilavert Vélez Sarsfield371998 1st Martín Palermo Boca Juniors73 2nd Carlos Gamarra Corinthians70 3rd José Luis Chilavert Vélez Sarsfield631999 1st Javier Saviola River Plate55 2nd Francisco Arce Palmeiras45 3rd Juan Román Riquelme Boca Juniors422000 1st Romário Vasco da Gama67 2nd Juan Román Riquelme Boca Juniors64 3rd Óscar Córdoba Boca Juniors53 Martín Palermo Boca Juniors2001 1st Juan Román Riquelme Boca Juniors88 2nd Óscar Córdoba Boca Juniors59 3rd Romário Vasco da Gama412002 1st José Cardozo Toluca39 2nd Sergio Órteman Olimpia32 3rd Alejandro Lembo Nacional302003 1st Carlos Tevez Boca Juniors73 2nd José Cardozo Toluca39 3rd Diego Santos332004 1st Carlos Tevez Boca Juniors76 2nd Javier Mascherano River Plate56 3rd Lucho González River Plate37 Robinho Santos2005 1st Carlos Tevez Corinthians77 2nd Diego Lugano São Paulo54 3rd Cicinho São Paulo372006 1st Matías Fernández Colo-Colo62 2nd Rodrigo Palacio Boca Juniors53 3rd Fernando Gago Boca Juniors502007 1st Salvador Cabañas América67 2nd Claudio Morel Rodríguez Boca Juniors61 3rd Hugo Ibarra Boca Juniors572008 1st Juan Sebastián Verón Estudiantes66 2nd Juan Román Riquelme Boca Juniors63 3rd Salvador Cabañas América472009 1st Juan Sebastián Verón Estudiantes109 2nd Édison Méndez LDU Quito64 Humberto Suazo Monterrey 3rd Leandro Desábato Estudiantes522010 1st Andrés D'Alessandro Internacional61 2nd Juan Sebastián Verón Estudiantes51 3rd Neymar Santos472011 1st Neymar Santos130 2nd Eduardo Vargas Universidad de Chile70 3rd Paulo Henrique Ganso Santos332012 1st Neymar Santos199 2nd Paolo Guerrero Corinthians50 3rd Lucas Moura São Paulo212013 1st Ronaldinho Atlético Mineiro156 2nd Neymar Santos81 3rd Maxi Rodríguez Newell's Old Boys792014 1st Teófilo Gutiérrez River Plate102 2nd Carlos Sánchez River Plate49 3rd Leonardo Pisculichi River Plate302015 1st Carlos Sánchez River Plate182 2nd Carlos Tevez Boca Juniors61 3rd Miller Bolaños Emelec232016 1st Miguel Borja Atlético Nacional85 2nd Gabriel Jesus Palmeiras76 3rd Alejandro Guerra Atlético Nacional502017 1st Luan Grêmio182 2nd Paolo Guerrero Flamengo65 3rd Arthur Grêmio462018 1st Pity Martínez River Plate130 2nd Juan Fernando Quintero River Plate49 3rd Franco Armani River Plate402019 1st Gabriel Barbosa Flamengo168 2nd Bruno Henrique Flamengo83 3rd Giorgian de Arrascaeta Flamengo402020 1st Marinho Santos80 2nd Ignacio Fernández River Plate59 3rd Gustavo Gómez Palmeiras572021 1st Julián Alvarez River Plate59 2nd Gabriel Barbosa Flamengo45 3rd Gustavo Gómez Palmeiras302022 1st Pedro Flamengo68 2nd Giorgian de Arrascaeta Flamengo64 3rd Julián Alvarez River Plate342023 1st Germán Cano Fluminense167 2nd Luis Suárez Grêmio40 3rd Nicolás de la Cruz River Plate82024 1st Luiz Henrique Botafogo128 2nd Jefferson Savarino Botafogo28 3rd Juan Fernando Quintero Racing Club172025 1st Giorgian de Arrascaeta Flamengo179 2nd Lionel Messi Inter Miami CF39 3rd Adrián Martínez Racing Club12
Wins by player
Player1st2nd3rd Zico3 (1977, 1981, 1982) 2 (1976, 1980) Carlos Tevez3 (2003, 2004, 2005) 1 (2015) — Elías Figueroa3 (1974, 1975, 1976) — 1 (1977) Diego Maradona2 (1979, 1980) 2 (1981, 1995) 1 (1982) Enzo Francescoli2 (1984, 1995) 2 (1985, 1996) — Neymar2 (2011, 2012) 1 (2013) 1 (2010) Juan Sebastián Verón2 (2008, 2009) 1 (2010) — Carlos Valderrama2 (1987, 1993) — 1 (1996) Juan Román Riquelme1 (2001) 2 (2000, 2008) 1 (1999) José Luis Chilavert1 (1996) 1 (1994) 2 (1997, 1998) Romerito1 (1985) 1 (1979) 1 (1986) Giorgian de Arrascaeta1 (2025) 1 (2022) 1 (2019) Pelé 1 (1973) 1 (1972) — José Cardozo1 (2002) 1 (2003) — Carlos Andrés Sánchez1 (2015) 1 (2014) — Gabriel Barbosa1 (2019) 1 (2021) — Cafu1 (1994) — 1 (1993) Martín Palermo1 (1998) — 1 (2000) Romário1 (2000) — 1 (2001) Salvador Cabañas1 (2007) — 1 (2008) Julián Alvarez1 (2021) — 1 (2022) Tostão1 (1971) — — Teófilo Cubillas1 (1972) — — Mario Kempes1 (1978) — — Sócrates1 (1983) — — Antonio Alzamendi1 (1986) — — Rubén Paz1 (1988) — — Bebeto1 (1989) — — Raúl Vicente Amarilla1 (1990) — — Oscar Ruggeri1 (1991) — — Raí1 (1992) — — Marcelo Salas1 (1997) — — Javier Saviola1 (1999) — — Matías Fernández1 (2006) — — Andrés D'Alessandro1 (2010) — — Ronaldinho1 (2013) — — Teófilo Gutiérrez1 (2014) — — Miguel Borja1 (2016) — — Luan1 (2017) — — Pity Martínez1 (2018) — — Marinho1 (2020) — — Pedro1 (2022) — — Germán Cano1 (2023) — — Luiz Henrique1 (2024) — —
Wins by nationality CountryPlayersTotal151812165555353411
Wins by club ClubPlayersTotal River Plate89 Flamengo46 Boca Juniors34 Santos33 Internacional24 São Paulo22 Vasco da Gama22 Corinthians22 Vélez Sársfield22 Fluminense22 Argentinos Juniors12 Estudiantes12 Alianza Lima11 América11 Atlético Mineiro11 Atlético Nacional11 Botafogo11 Colo-Colo11 Cruzeiro11 Deportivo Cali11 Grêmio11 Junior11 Olimpia11 Racing Club11 Toluca11 Valencia11
Women's award 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. YearRankPlayerClubPoints2021 1st Tamires Corinthians30 2nd Catalina Usme América de Cali29 3rd Gabi Zanotti Corinthians202022 1st Linda Caicedo Deportivo Cali76 2nd Bia Zaneratto Palmeiras21 3rd Yamila Rodríguez Palmeiras202023 1st Priscila Internacional34 2nd Millene Corinthians31 3rd Bia Zaneratto Palmeiras232024 1st Gabi Zanotti Corinthians34 2nd Gabi Portilho Corinthians31 3rd Vic Albuquerque Corinthians232025 1st Gabi Zanotti Corinthians71 2nd Marta Orlando Pride27 3rd Claudia Martínez Olimpia19
Wins by player
Player1st2nd3rd Gabi Zanotti2 (2024, 2025) — 1 (2021) Tamires1 (2021) — — Linda Caicedo1 (2022) — — Priscila1 (2023) — —
Wins by nationality CountryPlayersTotal3411
Wins by club ClubPlayersTotal Corinthians23 Deportivo Cali11 Internacional11
South American Team of the Year