SOUTH AMERICAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR

This award begun in 1971.From 1971 to 1985 it was awarded by Venezuelan newspaper El Mundo. From 1986 onwards it has been awarded by the Uruguayan newspaper El Pais. It is open only to South American players of South American clubs. The results in 1999 are:

RANK NAME NATIONALITY

VOTES

1 Javier Saviola Argentina 55
2 Francisco Arce Paraguay 45
3 Juan Roman Riquelme Argentina 42
4 Jose Luis Chilavert Paraguay 36
5 Ivan Cordoba Colombia 33
6 Alex Brazil 28
7 Pablo Aimar Argentina 27
8 Vampeta Brazil 23
9 Freddy Rincon Colombia 22
Ronaldinho Brazil 22
Walter Samuel Argentina 22

Javier Saviola, the 17 year old forward who helped River Plate to the league title as top goalscorer, won the award beating Francisco Arce and Juan Roman Riquelme. Previous winners of the award are:

YEAR NAME NATIONALITY
1971 Tostao Brazil
1972 Teofilo Cubillas Peru
1973 Pele Brazil
1974 Elias Figueroa Chile
1975 Elias Figueroa Chile
1976 Elias Figueroa Chile
1977 Zico Brazil
1978 Mario Kempes Argentina
1979 Diego Maradona Argentina
1980 Diego Maradona Argentina
1981 Zico Brazil
1982 Zico Brazil
1983 Socrates Brazil
1984 Enzo Francescoli Uruguay
1985 Julio Cesar Romero Paraguay
1986 Antonio Alzamendi Uruguay
1987 Carlos Valderrama Colombia
1988 Ruben Paz Uruguay
1989 Bebeto Brazil
1990 Raul Amarilla Paraguay
1991 Oscar Ruggeri Argentina
1992 Rai Brazil
1993 Carlos Valderrama Colombia
1994 Cafu Brazil
1995 Enzo Francescoli Uruguay
1996 Jose Luis Chilavert Paraguay
1997 Marcelo Salas Chile
1998 Martin Palermo Argentina

 

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