South American Player of the Year

Updated August 28, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

South American Player of the Year

Presented by El Pais of Uruguay since 1971. Candidates are limited to South American players in South American leagues and winners are selected by a poll of South American sports editors.

Multiple winners: Elias Figueroa and Zico (3); Enzo Francescoli, Diego Maradona and Carlos Valderrama (2).

Year Nat'l Team
1971 Tostao, Cruzeiro Brazil
1972 Teofilo Cubillas, Alianza Lima Peru
1973 Pelé, Santos Brazil
1974 Elias Figueroa, Internacional Chile
1975 Elias Figueroa, Internacional Chile
1976 Elias Figueroa, Internacional Chile
1977 Zico, Flamengo Brazil
1978 Mario Kempes, Valencia Argentina
1979 Diego Maradona, Argentinos Juniors Argentina
1980 Diego Maradona, Boca Juniors Argentina
1981 Zico, Flamengo Brazil
1982 Zico, Flamengo Brazil
1983 Socrates, Corinthians Brazil
1984 Enzo Francescoli, River Plate Uruguay
1985 Julio Cesar Romero, Fluminense Paraguay
1986 Antonio Alzamendi, River Plate Uruguay
1987 Carlos Valderrama, Deportivo Cali Colombia
1988 Ruben Paz, Racing Buenos Aires Uruguay
1989 Bebeto, Vasco da Gama Brazil
1990 Raul Amarilla, Olimpia Paraguay
1991 Oscar Ruggeri, Velez Sarsfield Argentina
1992 Rai, Sao Paulo Brazil
1993 Carlos Valderrama, Atl. Junior Colombia
1994 Cafu, Sao Paulo Brazil
1995Enzo Francescoli, River PlateUruguay
1996Jose Luis Chilavert, Velez SarsfieldParaguay
1997Marcelo Salas, River PlateChile
1998Martin Palermo, Boca JuniorsArgentina
1999Javier Saviola, River PlateArgentina
2000Romario, Vasco da GamaBrazil
2001Juan Roman Riquelme, Boca JuniorsArgentina
2002Jose Cardozo, TolucaParaguay
2003 Carlos Tevez, Boca JuniorsArgentina

European Player of the YearAnnual AwardsAfrican Player of the Year
Annual Awards: Soccer Players, Sports
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