http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/sam-poy.html Awarded by magazine El Mundo 1971-1992 and by El Pais 1986-present. Where they overlap El Pais is considered official. [A South American player of the year has been awarded since 1971. From 1971 until 1992 the Venezuelan newspaper "El Mundo" awarded it, and it was open to any South American player. This award may be considered the official one until 1985. Since 1986 the Uruguayan newspaper El País chooses the "Rey del Fútbol de América" which has obtained official status. Only South American players of South American clubs are eligible.] I have questions about this as I've been looking at POTY awards. Is there no award since El Mundo that encompasses all South Americans regardless of club? Was just trying to get a gauge of the awards for different players but this change in rules throws the whole thing out of sync. Incidently, does anyone think the El Mundo awards played down the abilities of players in Europe as they were less well regarded by some fans than players at home were?
Good thread. If there is, I don't know. I think not. We try to discuss here about every year, comprising players from South American teams and also the European teams... Looking superficially, all prizes (1971-1992) seem to be fair. - Missing some years, no? If I'm wrong, forget this post. 2009 1º Juan Sebastián Verón (Arg) - Estudiantes (Arg) - 109 votes 2º Édison Méndez (Ecu) - LDU Quito (Ecu) - 64 votes Humberto Suazo (Chi) - Monterrey (Mex) - 64 votes 3º Leandro Desábato (Arg) - Estudiantes (Arg) - 52 votes 2010 1º Andrés D'Alessandro (Arg) - Internacional (Bra) - 61 votes 2º Juan Sebastián Verón (Arg) - Estudiantes (Arg) - 51 votes 3º Neymar (Bra) - Santos (Bra) - 47 votes 2011 1º Neymar (Bra) - Santos (Bra) - 130 votes 2º Eduardo Vargas (Chi) - Universidad de Chile (Chi) - 70 votes 3º Paulo Henrique Ganso (Bra) - Santos (Bra) - 33 votes 2012 1º Neymar (Bra) - Santos (Bra) - 199 votes 2º Paolo Guerrero (Per) - Corinthians (Bra) - 50 votes 3º Lucas (Bra) - São Paulo (Bra) - 21 votes
Yeah, helpfully those exact years are in full detail on Wikipedia, but thank you anyway. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_American_Footballer_of_the_Year#By_El_Pa.C3.ADs
It's true, not include footballers out of America distorts the award for a complete analysis. Unfortunately there isn't an official prize to do it. Some time ago I did an article about the best player of the world every year since 1908 (Mejor Futbolista del Año) and the exercise allowed me to use some filters to create lists from my own criteria. Thus I chose the best located South American footballer every year and the resulting list is this: Best South American Footballer of the Year 2012 - MESSI, Lionel (Argentina & Barcelona [SPA]) 2011 - MESSI, Lionel (Argentina & Barcelona [SPA]) 2010 - MESSI, Lionel (Argentina & Barcelona [SPA]) 2009 - MESSI, Lionel (Argentina & Barcelona [SPA]) 2008 - MESSI, Lionel (Argentina & Barcelona [SPA]) 2007 - KAKÁ (Brazil & AC Milan [ITA]) 2006 - RONALDINHO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) 2005 - RONALDINHO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) 2004 - RONALDINHO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) 2003 - RONALDO (Brazil & Real Madrid [SPA]) 2002 - ROBERTO CARLOS (Brazil & Real Madrid [SPA]) 2001 - RIVALDO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) 2000 - RIVALDO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) 1999 - RIVALDO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) 1998 - RONALDO (Brazil & Inter Milan [ITA]) 1997 - RONALDO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA] / Inter Milan [ITA]) 1996 - RONALDO (Brazil & PSV Eindhoven [NED] / Barcelona [SPA]) 1995 - BATISTUTA, Gabriel (Argentina & Fiorentina [ITA]) 1994 - ROMÁRIO (Brazil & Barcelona [SPA]) 1993 - ROMÁRIO (Brazil & PSV Eindhoven [NED] / Barcelona [SPA]) 1992 - BEBETO (Brazil & Vasco da Gama [BRA] / Deportivo La Coruña [SPA]) 1991 - BATISTUTA, Gabriel (Argentina & Boca Juniors [ARG] / Fiorentina [ITA]) 1990 - MARADONA, Diego (Argentina & Napoli [ITA]) 1989 - MARADONA, Diego (Argentina & Napoli [ITA]) 1988 - MARADONA, Diego (Argentina & Napoli [ITA]) 1987 - MARADONA, Diego (Argentina & Napoli [ITA]) 1986 - MARADONA, Diego (Argentina & Napoli [ITA]) 1985 - JÚNIOR (Brazil & Torino [ITA]) 1984 - FRANCESCOLI, Enzo (Uruguay & River Plate [ARG]) 1983 - ZICO (Brazil & Flamengo [BRA] / Udinese [ITA]) 1982 - ZICO (Brazil & Flamengo [BRA]) 1981 - ZICO (Brazil & Flamengo [BRA]) 1980 - MARADONA, Diego (Argentina & Argentinos Juniors [ARG]) 1979 - MARADONA, Diego (Argentina & Argentinos Juniors [ARG]) 1978 - KEMPES, Mario (Argentina & Valencia [SPA]) 1977 - ZICO (Brazil & Flamengo [BRA]) 1976 - FIGUEROA, Elías (Chile & Internacional [BRA]) 1975 - FIGUEROA, Elías (Chile & Internacional [BRA]) 1974 - FIGUEROA, Elías (Chile & Internacional [BRA]) 1973 - RIVELINO (Brazil & Corinthians [BRA]) 1972 - CUBILLAS, Teófilo (Peru & Alianza Lima [PER]) 1971 - TOSTAO (Brazil & Cruzeiro [BRA]) 1970 - PELÉ (Brazil & Santos [BRA]) 1969 - PELÉ (Brazil & Santos [BRA]) 1968 - PELÉ (Brazil & Santos [BRA]) 1967 - GÉRSON (Brazil & Botafogo [BRA]) 1966 - ARTIME, Luis (Argentina & Independiente [ARG]) 1965 - PELÉ (Brazil & Santos [BRA]) 1964 - PELÉ (Brazil & Santos [BRA]) 1963 - PELÉ (Brazil & Santos [BRA]) 1962 - GARRINCHA (Brazil & Botafogo [BRA]) 1961 - GARRINCHA (Brazil & Botafogo [BRA]) 1960 - PELÉ (Brazil & Santos [BRA]) 1959 - PELÉ (Brazil & Santos [BRA]) 1958 - PELÉ (Brazil & Santos [BRA]) 1957 - DI STÉFANO, Alfredo (Argentina & Real Madrid [SPA]) 1956 - DI STÉFANO, Alfredo (Argentina & Real Madrid [SPA]) 1955 - DI STÉFANO, Alfredo (Argentina & Real Madrid [SPA]) 1954 - DI STÉFANO, Alfredo (Argentina & Real Madrid [SPA]) 1953 - SCHIAFFINO, Juan Alberto (Uruguay & Peñarol [URU]) 1952 - SCHIAFFINO, Juan Alberto (Uruguay & Peñarol [URU]) 1951 - DI STÉFANO, Alfredo (Argentina & Millonarios [COL]) 1950 - ZIZINHO (Brazil & Flamengo [BRA]) 1949 - ADEMIR (Brazil & Vasco da Gama [BRA]) 1948 - ZIZINHO (Brazil & Flamengo [BRA]) 1947 - MORENO, José Manuel (Argentina & River Plate [ARG]) 1946 - PONTONI, René (Argentina & San Lorenzo [ARG]) 1945 - PEDERNERA, Adolfo (Argentina & River Plate [ARG]) 1944 - ZIZINHO (Brazil & Flamengo [BRA]) 1943 - ZIZINHO (Brazil & Flamengo [BRA]) 1942 - MORENO, José Manuel (Argentina & River Plate [ARG]) 1941 - MORENO, José Manuel (Argentina & River Plate [ARG]) 1940 - MORENO, José Manuel (Argentina & River Plate [ARG]) 1939 - ERICO, Arsenio (Paraguay & Independiente [ARG]) 1938 - LEONIDAS (Brazil & Flamengo [BRA]) 1937 - ERICO, Arsenio (Paraguay & Independiente [ARG]) 1936 - LEONIDAS (Brazil & Flamengo [BRA]) 1935 - NASAZZI, José (Uruguay & Nacional [URU]) 1934 - MONTI, Luis (Argentina & Juventus [ITA]) 1933 - VARALLO, Francisco (Argentina & Boca Juniors [ARG]) 1932 - FERREYRA, Bernabé (Argentina & River Plate [ARG]) 1931 - ORSI, Raimundo (Argentina & Juventus [ITA]) 1930 - NASAZZI, José (Uruguay & Bella Vista [URU]) 1929 - GONZÁLEZ, Aurelio (Paraguay & Olimpia [PAR]) 1928 - SCARONE, Héctor (Uruguay & Nacional [URU]) 1927 - SCARONE, Héctor (Uruguay & Nacional [URU]) 1926 - ANDRADE, José Leandro (Uruguay & Nacional [URU]) 1925 - SEOANE, Manuel (Argentina & El Porvenir [ARG] / Boca Juniors [ARG]) 1924 - PETRONE, Pedro (Uruguay & Nacional [URU]) 1923 - TARASCONI, Domingo (Argentina & Boca Juniors [ARG]) 1922 - SEOANE, Manuel (Argentina & Independiente [ARG]) 1921 - FRIEDENREICH, Arthur (Brazil & Paulistano [BRA]) 1920 - ROMANO, Ángel (Uruguay & Nacional [URU]) 1919 - FRIEDENREICH, Arthur (Brazil & Paulistano [BRA]) 1918 - FRIEDENREICH, Arthur (Brazil & Paulistano [BRA]) 1917 - SCARONE, Héctor (Uruguay & Nacional [URU]) 1916 - GRADÍN, Isabelino (Uruguay & Peñarol [URU]) 1915 - OHACO, Alberto (Argentina & Racing Club [ARG]) 1914 - OHACO, Alberto (Argentina & Racing Club [ARG]) 1913 - OHACO, Alberto (Argentina & Racing Club [ARG]) 1912 - FRIEDENREICH, Arthur (Brazil & Mackenzie College [BRA]) 1911 - PIENDIBENE, José (Uruguay & Peñarol [URU]) 1910 - PIENDIBENE, José (Uruguay & Peñarol [URU])
Winners by number of awards: 9 - PELÉ (1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970) 7 - MARADONA, Diego (1979, 1980, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990) 5 - DI STÉFANO, Alfredo (1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957) 5 - MESSI, Lionel (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) 4 - FRIEDENREICH, Arthur (1912, 1918, 1919, 1921) 4 - MORENO, José Manuel (1940, 1941, 1942, 1947) 4 - ZIZINHO (1943, 1944, 1948, 1950) 4 - ZICO (1977, 1981, 1982, 1983) 4 - RONALDO (1996, 1997, 1998, 2003) 3 - OHACO, Alberto (1913, 1914, 1915) 3 - SCARONE, Héctor (1917, 1927, 1928) 3 - FIGUEROA, Elías (1974, 1975, 1976) 3 - RIVALDO (1999, 2000, 2001) 3 - RONALDINHO (2004, 2005, 2006) 2 - PIENDIBENE, José (1910, 1911) 2 - SEOANE, Manuel (1922, 1925) 2 - NASAZZI, José (1930, 1935) 2 - LEONIDAS (1936, 1938) 2 - ERICO, Arsenio (1937, 1939) 2 - SCHIAFFINO, Juan Alberto (1952, 1953) 2 - GARRINCHA (1961, 1962) 2 - BATISTUTA, Gabriel (1991, 1995) 2 - ROMÁRIO (1993, 1994) 1 - GRADÍN, Isabelino (1916) 1 - ROMANO, Ángel (1920) 1 - TARASCONI, Domingo (1923) 1 - PETRONE, Pedro (1924) 1 - ANDRADE, José Leandro (1926) 1 - GONZÁLEZ, Aurelio (1929) 1 - ORSI, Raimundo (1931) 1 - FERREYRA, Bernabé (1932) 1 - VARALLO, Francisco (1933) 1 - MONTI, Luis (1934) 1 - PEDERNERA, Adolfo (1945) 1 - PONTONI, René (1946) 1 - ADEMIR (1949) 1 - ARTIME, Luis (1966) 1 - GÉRSON (1967) 1 - TOSTAO (1971) 1 - CUBILLAS, Teófilo (1972) 1 - RIVELINO (1973) 1 - KEMPES, Mario (1978) 1 - FRANCESCOLI, Enzo (1984) 1 - JÚNIOR (1985) 1 - BEBETO (1992) 1 - ROBERTO CARLOS (2002) 1 - KAKÁ (2007)
Countries by number of winners: 45 - Brazil 9 - PELÉ (1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970) 4 - FRIEDENREICH, Arthur (1912, 1918, 1919, 1921) 4 - ZIZINHO (1943, 1944, 1948, 1950) 4 - ZICO (1977, 1981, 1982, 1983) 4 - RONALDO (1996, 1997, 1998, 2003) 3 - RIVALDO (1999, 2000, 2001) 3 - RONALDINHO (2004, 2005, 2006) 2 - LEONIDAS (1936, 1938) 2 - GARRINCHA (1961, 1962) 2 - ROMÁRIO (1993, 1994) 1 - ADEMIR (1949) 1 - GÉRSON (1967) 1 - TOSTAO (1971) 1 - RIVELINO (1973) 1 - JÚNIOR (1985) 1 - BEBETO (1992) 1 - ROBERTO CARLOS (2002) 1 - KAKÁ (2007) 37 - Argentina 7 - MARADONA, Diego (1979, 1980, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990) 5 - DI STÉFANO, Alfredo (1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957) 5 - MESSI, Lionel (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) 4 - MORENO, José Manuel (1940, 1941, 1942, 1947) 3 - OHACO, Alberto (1913, 1914, 1915) 2 - SEOANE, Manuel (1922, 1925) 2 - BATISTUTA, Gabriel (1991, 1995) 1 - TARASCONI, Domingo (1923) 1 - ORSI, Raimundo (1931) 1 - FERREYRA, Bernabé (1932) 1 - VARALLO, Francisco (1933) 1 - MONTI, Luis (1934) 1 - PEDERNERA, Adolfo (1945) 1 - PONTONI, René (1946) 1 - ARTIME, Luis (1966) 1 - KEMPES, Mario (1978) 14 - Uruguay 3 - SCARONE, Héctor (1917, 1927, 1928) 2 - PIENDIBENE, José (1910, 1911) 2 - NASAZZI, José (1930, 1935) 2 - SCHIAFFINO, Juan Alberto (1952, 1953) 1 - GRADÍN, Isabelino (1916) 1 - ROMANO, Ángel (1920) 1 - PETRONE, Pedro (1924) 1 - ANDRADE, José Leandro (1926) 1 - FRANCESCOLI, Enzo (1984) 3 - Chile 3 - FIGUEROA, Elías (1974, 1975, 1976) 3 - Paraguay 2 - ERICO, Arsenio (1937, 1939) 1 - GONZÁLEZ, Aurelio (1929) 1 - Peru 1 - CUBILLAS, Teófilo (1972)
Clubs by number of winners: 15 - Barcelona [SPA] 5 - MESSI, Lionel (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) 3 - RIVALDO (1999, 2000, 2001) 3 - RONALDINHO (2004, 2005, 2006) 2 - ROMÁRIO (1993, 1994) 2 - RONALDO (1996, 1997) 10 - Flamengo [BRA] 4 - ZIZINHO (1943, 1944, 1948, 1950) 4 - ZICO (1977, 1981, 1982, 1983) 2 - LEONIDAS (1936, 1938) 9 - Santos [BRA] 9 - PELÉ (1958, 1959, 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970) 7 - River Plate [ARG] 4 - MORENO, José Manuel (1940, 1941, 1942, 1947) 1 - FERREYRA, Bernabé (1932) 1 - PEDERNERA, Adolfo (1945) 1 - FRANCESCOLI, Enzo (1984) 7 - Nacional [URU] 3 - SCARONE, Héctor (1917, 1927, 1928) 1 - ROMANO, Ángel (1920) 1 - PETRONE, Pedro (1924) 1 - ANDRADE, José Leandro (1926) 1 - NASAZZI, José (1935) 6 - Real Madrid [ESP] 4 - DI STÉFANO, Alfredo (1954, 1955, 1956, 1957) 1 - ROBERTO CARLOS (2002) 1 - RONALDO (2003) 5 - Napoli [ITA] 5 - MARADONA, Diego (1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990) 5 - Peñarol [URU] 2 - PIENDIBENE, José (1910, 1911) 2 - SCHIAFFINO, Juan Alberto (1952, 1953) 1 - GRADÍN, Isabelino (1916) 4 - Independiente [ARG] 2 - ERICO, Arsenio (1937, 1939) 1 - SEOANE, Manuel (1922) 1 - ARTIME, Luis (1966) 4 - Boca Juniors [ARG] 1 - TARASCONI, Domingo (1923) 1 - SEOANE, Manuel (1925) 1 - VARALLO, Francisco (1933) 1 - BATISTUTA, Gabriel (1991) 3 - Racing Club [ARG] 3 - OHACO, Alberto (1913, 1914, 1915) 3 - Paulistano [BRA] 3 - FRIEDENREICH, Arthur (1918, 1919, 1921) 3 - Internacional [BRA] 3 - FIGUEROA, Elías (1974, 1975, 1976) 3 - Botafogo [BRA] 2 - GARRINCHA (1961, 1962) 1 - GÉRSON (1967) 2 - Argentinos Juniors [ARG] 2 - MARADONA, Diego (1979, 1980) 2 - Fiorentina [ITA] 2 - BATISTUTA, Gabriel (1991, 1995) 2 - Inter Milan [ITA] 2 - RONALDO (1997, 1998) 2 - Juventus [ITA] 1 - ORSI, Raimundo (1931) 1 - MONTI, Luis (1934) 2 - Vasco da Gama [BRA] 1 - ADEMIR (1949) 1 - BEBETO (1992) 2 - PSV Eindhoven [NED] 1 - ROMÁRIO (1993) 1 - RONALDO (1996) 1 - Mackenzie College [BRA] 1 - FRIEDENREICH, Arthur (1912) 1 - El Porvenir [ARG] 1 - SEOANE, Manuel (1925) 1 - Olimpia [PAR] 1 - GONZÁLEZ, Aurelio (1929) 1 - Bella Vista [URU] 1 - NASAZZI, José (1930) 1 - San Lorenzo [ARG] 1 - PONTONI, René (1946) 1 - Millonarios [COL] 1 - DI STÉFANO, Alfredo (1951) 1 - Cruzeiro [BRA] 1 - TOSTAO (1971) 1 - Alianza Lima [PER] 1 - CUBILLAS, Teófilo (1972) 1 - Corinthians [BRA] 1 - RIVELINO (1973) 1 - Valencia [ESP] 1 - KEMPES, Mario (1978) 1 - Udinese [ITA] 1 - ZICO (1983) 1 - Torino [ITA] 1 - JÚNIOR (1985) 1 - Deportivo La Coruña [SPA] 1 - BEBETO (1992) 1 - AC Milan [BRA] 1 - KAKÁ (2007)
Great work Perú FC/Glavisted. By the way, in this work of yours, do you have something like a top 5 or even top 10 (I know this would be really tough) from each year? It doesn't need to be in order. I'm asking this because I really like to see the players' consistency among the best during a period of years, not only the best.
Great work, Peru FC. Do you believe that El País has credibility? I have read (in RSSSF) the top10 in some years and there are many injustices... The most absurd thing for me was seeing Alex Pinho in 13th place in 1998 when he wasn't starting 11 of Vasco da Gama Or RSSSF is wrong.
I'm thinking the same. Maradona 1984/5 season is arguably the best (ratings based) in his career. I can disagree with a few years. But, overall is a very nice and strong list, as always, mate
I think it’s a safe bet to assume he had similar high ratings in 1979 and 1980 according to the magazines of El Grafico and Goles – but I’m still missing some editions that would confirm it, so the jury is still out.
I think Júnior had a great performance in 1985 with Torino, even better than Diego Maradona in Napoli who I'd place 2nd. The Brazilian shone as playmaker and was elected as the best player of the Serie A 1984/85.
By dbscalcio, 1984/5 season: Junior 7,07 and Maradona 7,03 And according Guerin, Maradona 7,00 and Junior 6,83 A tight race, btw
Dunno how many assists Junior had (probably a few because he was a notably good set-piece specialist) but he had 7 goals in 84/85. 4 of them were a penalty kick however. Meanwhile, Maradona scored 14 goals with 5PKs in 84/85 for a worse team (compared with Torino). I realize that Junior was a 'mediano' while Maradona was a borderline forward. Curious about who elected him as best player of Serie A. Who did that? Looks like a tough call to me to favor the DM/CM here. Rating is very good but should not be only criteria (and isn't flawless - i.e. Maradona made Onze Mondial team while Junior didn't; compare with Falcao between 1982-1984 years). http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html All three field-goals by Junior in 84/85 were a free kick Spoiler (Move your mouse to the spoiler area to reveal the content) Show Spoiler Hide Spoiler
Same request from me please. Also any specific sources you used to come to a decision. Thanks for your posts above by the way.
I don't remember exactly the entity (probably was quoted by msioux75). My opinion is based mostly on what I've seen from audiovisual files and I believe Júnior was half a step ahead of Diego Maradona that year. My Top 3 for 1985 was: 1. Júnior (Brazil & Torino [ITA]) 2. Diego Maradona (Argentina & Napoli [ITA]) 3. Julio César Romero (Paraguay & Fluminense [BRA])
Not really, as many of these type of elections I think there are many irregularities by various reasons.
Sorry mates, I meant I've a world Top 5 by each year including Europeans and other, not just only for South Americans).
Just saw this thread, great work on that list. Mostly agree, so here are the few disagreements: don't think Pele deserves it for 1970, as his club performance were irregular, he shone at the WC, but was he really individually better than Gerson, Tostao and especially Teofilo Cubillas. I think Garrincha is very underrepresented with only two times as winner. Same for Pedernera with only one win.
What happens is that the best years of Garrincha (1958 to 1962) raced with the espectacular explosion of Pelé who wins from 1958 to 1960 in my opinion. "Mané" reached an extraordinary peak but not so long to compete then). Similar case for Adolfo Pedernera, his best years were probably between 1940 to 1946 and had to race with the reigns of José Manuel Moreno and Zizinho (during his glory years). He could won in 1946 but that year René Pontoni had a masterful performance with San Lorenzo and wins narrowly in my opinion.