Uruguayan newspaper El País has released their nominees for the South American Footballer of the year and there are fifteen Argentines among the extensive list.

The prestigious award dates back to 1971 and has some incredible previous winners from Pele to Diego Maradona but a switch in 1986, when El País took over from Venezuelan newspaper El Mundo, meant winners must be playing their club football in South America.

Last year’s winner was Uruguayan Carlos Sánchez after his vital role in River Plate’s Copa Libertadores win and this year, River are again well represented.

Marcelo Barovero, Gabriel Mercado, Jonathan Maidana, Leonardo Ponzio and Lucas Alario are all credited after another fine year under Marcelo Gallardo but they are far from the only Argentines to feature.

Carlos Tevez won the award three consecutive years between 2003-05 and after finishing runner-up to Sánchez last year is back in the running along with Boca Juniors teammate Ricardo Centurión, who spent the other half of 2016 in Brazil with São Paulo.

Two strikers plying their trades in Brazil make the shortlist with recent Argentina international Lucas Pratto receiving recognition for his form with Atlético Mineiro and Ramón Abila for his achievements with Huracán and Cruzeiro.

Lastly among the Argentines, Benfica’s Franco Cervi is included after his impressive performances with Rosario Central, Argentina and San Lorenzo full back Emmanuel Mas, Lanús’ Román Martínez, Santiago Vergini, Atlético Nacional goalkeeper Franco Armani and Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi for manager of the year.

The full list

Goalkeeper
Franco Armani (ARG) Atlético Nacional
Marcelo Barovero (ARG) River Plate and Necaxa
Leonardo Burián (URU) Montevideo Wanderers
Alisson (BRA) Internacional
Librado Azcona (PAR) Independiente del Valle

Right back
Jorge Fucile (URU) Nacional
Jorge Moreira (PAR) Libertad and River Plate
Gabriel Mercado (ARG) River Plate
Daniel Bocanegra (COL) Atlético Nacional
Fágner Conserva (BRA) Corinthians

Centre back (right)
Gustavo Gómez (PAR) Lanús
Gerardo Alcoba (URU) Pumas
Yerry Mina (COL) Independiente Santa Fé and Palmeiras
Jonathan Maidana (ARG) River Plate
Santiago Vergini (ARG) Boca Juniors

Centre back (left)
Diego Polenta (URU) Nacional
Arturo Mina (ECU) Independiente del Valle and River Plate
Frickson Erazo (ECU) Atlético Mineiro
Pablo Aguilar (PAR) Club América
Alexis Henríquez (COL) Atlético Nacional

Left back
Álvaro Pereira (URU) Estudiantes and Cerro Porteño
Emmanuel Mas (ARG) San Lorenzo
Maximiliano Olivera (URU) Peñarol
Frank Fabra (COL) Boca Juniors
Eugenio Mena (CHI) São Paulo

Defensive midfield
Sebastián Pérez (COL) Atlético Nacional and Boca Juniors
Alexander Mejía (COL) Atlético Nacional
Cristián Riveros (PAR) Olimpia
Abel Aguilar (COL) Deportivo Cali
Leonardo Ponzio (ARG) River Plate

Left wing
Franco Cervi (ARG) Rosario Central
Nicolás Lodeiro (URU) Boca Juniors
Luis Manuel Seijas (VEN) Independiente Santa Fe and Internacional
Ricardo Centurión (ARG) São Paulo and Boca Juniors
Lucas Lima (BRA) Santos

Right wing
Carlos Sánchez (URU) Monterrey
Gabriel Barbosa (BRA) Santos
Yefferson Soteldo (VEN) Zamora
Marcos Riveros (PAR) Cerro Porteño
Alan Patrick (BRA) Flamengo

Attacking midfield
Giorgian De Arrascaeta (URU) Cruzeiro
Robinho (BRA) Santos
Román Martínez (ARG) Lanús
Edwin Cardona (COL) Monterrey
Macnelly Torres (COL) Atlético Nacional

Striker
Gabriel Jesus (BRA) Palmeiras
Carlos Tevez (ARG) Boca Juniors
Lucas Alario (ARG) River Plate
Orlando Berrío (COL) Atlético Nacional
Ángel Romero (PAR) Corinthians

Striker (2)
Fred (BRA) Fluminense and Atlético Mineiro
Ramón Ábila (ARG) Huracán and Cruzeiro
Lucas Pratto (ARG) Atlético Mineiro
Miguel Borja (COL) Atlético Nacional
Paolo Guerrero (PER) Flamengo

Coach
Reinaldo Rueda (COL) Atlético Nacional
Pablo Repetto (URU) Independiente del Valle
Tite (BRA) Corinthians and Brazilian national team
Juan Antonio Pizzi (ARG) Chilean national team
Oscar Tabárez (URU) Uruguayan national team