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 2002 are:
| RANK | NAME | NATIONALITY |
VOTES |
| 1 | Jose Cardozo | Paraguay | 39 |
| 2 | Sergio Orteman | Uruguay | 32 |
| 3 | Alejandro Lembo | Uruguay | 30 |
| 4 | Andres D'Alessandro | Argentina | 29 |
| 5 | Kaka | Brazil | 27 |
| 6 | Gabriel Milito | Argentina | 25 |
| 7 | Francisco Arce | Paraguay | 24 |
| 8 | Sebastian Saja | Argentina | 23 |
| 9 | Marcelo Delgado | Argentina | 18 |
| 10 | Robinho | Brazil | 16 |
Jose Cardozo of Mexican side Toluca scored fifty goals to help Toluca win the Apertura title. This was the first time that a Mexican-based player had received the award. 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 |
| 1999 | Javier Saviola | Argentina |
| 2000 | Romario | Brazil |
| 2001 | Juan Roman Riquelme | Argentina |
Click here to go to the 1999 South American Player of the Year
Click here to go to the 2000 South American Player of the Year
Click here to go to the 2001 South American Player of the Year
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