Argentine striker Julián Álvarez was chosen as the new ‘King of America’, according to the survey organized each year by the Uruguayan newspaper El País and released this Friday.
The 36th edition of the award given by the historic newspaper had the participation of 213 communicators and 59 of them chose to recognize the River Plate striker.
In this way, Álvarez won with 28% of the votes and beat the Brazilian ‘Gabigol’ Barboza who finished second with 21%.
Further behind were Paraguayan defender Gustavo Gómez (14%), Brazilian forward Hulk (13%) and Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta (5.5%).
During the last season, Álvarez won the Argentine League and the Champions Trophy with River Plate, while he also won the Copa América with the national team.
The ‘King of America’ award has been awarded by the newspaper El País since 1986 and so far the players who have stood out the most were the Chilean Elías Ricardo Figueroa, the Brazilian Zico and the Argentine Carlos Tévez, who won it three times each one.
Also recognized were the Argentines Diego Armando Maradona, Juan Sebastián Verón, Mario Alberto Kempes and Juan Román Riquelme; the Colombians Carlos Valderrama and Teófilo Gutiérrez; the Paraguayans Julio César Romero and José Luis Chilavert; the Chilean Marcelo Salas; the Brazilians Neymar, Pelé and Ronaldinho; and Uruguayans Enzo Francescoli and Antonio Alzamendi, among others.
The last Argentine to win it had been Gonzalo ‘Pity’ Martínez in 2018, while in 2020 and 2021 ‘Gabigol’ Barboza and Marinho won.
As in every year, the recognition also awarded to the best technical director of the continent, a category in which the winner was the Portuguese Abel Ferreira, two-time champion of the Copa Libertadores with the Brazilian Palmeiras.
In addition, since this year the ‘Queen of America’ began to be chosen, an award that went to the Brazilian Tamires, winner of the Copa Libertadores with Corinthians. EFE
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