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 2003 are:
| RANK | NAME | NATIONALITY |
VOTES |
| 1 | Carlos Tevez | Argentina | 73 |
| 2 | Jose Cardozo | Paraguay | 39 |
| 3 | Diego Ribas | Brazil | 33 |
| 4 | Sebastian Battaglia | Argentina | 26 |
| 5 | Clemente Rodriguez | Argentina | 18 |
| 6 | Rolando Schiavi | Argentina | 17 |
| 7 | Alex | Brazil | 16 |
| 8 | Robinho | Brazil | 14 |
| Roberto Abbondanzieri | Argentina | 14 | |
| 10 | Marcelo Sosa | Uruguay | 13 |
Last year's winner Jose Cardozo could only manage second in 2003 behind young Argentine Carlos Tevez. 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 |
| 2002 | Jose Cardozo | Paraguay |
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