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.
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. 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 2024, 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.
| Year | Rank | Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 1st | Tostão | Cruzeiro | 24 |
| 2nd | José Omar Pastoriza | Independiente | 21 | |
| 3rd | Luis Artime | Nacional | 19 | |
| 1972 | 1st | Teófilo Cubillas | Alianza Lima | 41 |
| 2nd | Pelé | Santos | 32 | |
| 3rd | Jairzinho | Botafogo | 28 | |
| 1973 | 1st | Pelé | Santos | 54 |
| 2nd | Miguel Ángel Brindisi | Huracán | 43 | |
| 3rd | Rivellino | Corinthians | 33 | |
| 1974 | 1st | Elías Figueroa | Internacional | 39 |
| 2nd | Marinho Chagas | Botafogo | 26 | |
| 3rd | Carlos Babington | SG Wattenscheid 09 | 22 | |
| 1975 | 1st | Elías Figueroa | Internacional | 50 |
| 2nd | Norberto Alonso | River Plate | 24 | |
| 3rd | Fernando Morena | Peñarol | 23 | |
| 1976 | 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 | Valencia | 78 |
| 2nd | Ubaldo Fillol | River Plate | 59 | |
| 3rd | Dirceu | América | 48 | |
| 1979 | 1st | Diego Maradona | Argentinos Juniors | 80 |
| 2nd | Julio César Romero | Sportivo Luqueño | 40 | |
| 3rd | Falcão | Internacional | 29 | |
| 1980 | 1st | Diego Maradona | Argentinos Juniors | 89 |
| 2nd | Zico | Flamengo | 37 | |
| 3rd | Waldemar Victorino | Nacional | 22 | |
| 1981 | 1st | Zico | Flamengo | – |
| 2nd | Diego Maradona | Boca Juniors | – | |
| 3rd | Júnior | Flamengo | – | |
| 1982 | 1st | Zico | Flamengo | 78 |
| 2nd | Falcão | Roma | 46 | |
| 3rd | Diego Maradona | Barcelona | 31 | |
| 1983 | 1st | Sócrates | Corinthians | 59 |
| 2nd | Ubaldo Fillol | Argentinos Juniors | 30 | |
| 3rd | Éder | Atlético Mineiro | 29 | |
| 1984 | 1st | Enzo Francescoli | River Plate | – |
| 2nd | Ubaldo Fillol | Flamengo | – | |
| 3rd | Ricardo Bochini | Independiente | – | |
| 1985 | 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 | 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 | S.S. 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 | 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.
| 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. Only South American players of South American clubs are eligible.
| 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 | |
| 2024 | 1st | Luiz Henrique | Botafogo | 128 |
| 2nd | Jefferson Savarino | Botafogo | 28 | |
| 3rd | Juan Fernando Quintero | Racing Club | 17 | |
| 2025 | 1st | Giorgian de Arrascaeta | Flamengo | 179 |
| 2nd | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | 39 | |
| 3rd | Adrián Martínez | Racing Club | 12 | |
Wins by player
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) |
| de Arrascaeta | 1 (2025) | 1 (2022) | 1 (2019) |
| 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) | — | — |
| Luiz Henrique | 1 (2024) | — | — |
Wins by nationality
| Country | Players | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 15 | 18 |
| Argentina | 12 | 16 |
| Paraguay | 5 | 5 |
| Uruguay | 5 | 5 |
| Chile | 3 | 5 |
| Colombia | 3 | 4 |
| Peru | 1 | 1 |
Wins by club
| Club | Players | Total |
|---|---|---|
| River Plate | 8 | 9 |
| Flamengo | 4 | 6 |
| 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 |
| Botafogo | 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
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 | 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 | |
| 2024 | 1st | Gabi Zanotti | Corinthians | 34 |
| 2nd | Gabi Portilho | Corinthians | 31 | |
| 3rd | Vic Albuquerque | Corinthians | 23 | |
Wins by player
| Player | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gabi Zanotti | 2 (2024, 2025) | — | 1 (2021) |
| Tamires | 1 (2021) | — | — |
| Linda Caicedo | 1 (2022) | — | — |
| Priscila | 1 (2023) | — | — |
Wins by nationality
| Country | Players | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 3 | 4 |
| Colombia | 1 | 1 |
Wins by club
| Club | Players | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Corinthians | 2 | 3 |
| Deportivo Cali | 1 | 1 |
| Internacional | 1 | 1 |
See also
- South American Coach of the Year
- UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award
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