Pelé, Zico, Maradona, Francescoli, Romario, Riquelme are just a few to be named South American footballer of the year and while the award has perhaps lost some of its’ prestige with the predominate shift to European football, it remains a coveted prize.
El País have compiled the votes from journalists all over South America since 1986 and selected as the pick of those plying their trade on the continent and up for the 2017 player of the year award are River Plate’s Ignacio Scocco, Boca Juniors’ Darío Benedetto, Lanús’ Lautaro Acosta and the two non-Argentines, Flamengo’s Peruvian centre forward Paolo Guerrero and Gremio’s Luan.
Benedetto’s prolific year at Boca fired Los Xeneizes to the Primera title in June and has since continued that form while also getting called up to the Argentina squad; Lautaro Acosta is another to have featured under Jorge Sampaoli after shining for Lanús en route to the Copa Libertadores final and while Nacho Scocco hasn’t had quite as impressive a year, the striker has been a regular scorer since joining River Plate.
Benedetto seems the most likely candidate from that list but Paolo Guerrero will provide competition after helping Peru to a first World Cup since 1982.
golazo argentino 