SOCCER - SOUTH AMERICAN FOOTBALLER of the YEAR
up through 1985 awarded by Venezuelan newspaper El Mundo, since 1986 awarded by Uruguayan newspaper El País
| 2014 | Teófilo Gutiérrez |
Colombia |
Argentina River Plate |
|
| 2013 | Ronaldinho | Brazil | Brazil Atlético Mineiro | |
| 2012 | Neymar | Brazil | Brazil Santos | |
| 2011 | Neymar | Brazil | Brazil Santos | |
| 2010 | Andrés D'Alessandro | Argentina | Brazil Internacional | |
| 2009 | Juan Sebastián Verón | Argentina | Argentina Estudiantes | |
| 2008 | Juan Sebastián Verón | Argentina | Argentina Estudiantes | |
| 2007 | Salvador Cabañas | Paraguay | Mexico América | |
| 2006 | Matías Fernández | Chile | Chile Colo-Colo | |
| 2005 | Carlos Tevez | Argentina | Brazil Corinthians | |
| 2004 | Carlos Tevez | Argentina | Argentina Boca Juniors | |
| 2003 | Carlos Tevez | Argentina | Argentina Boca Juniors | |
| 2002 | José Cardozo | Paraguay | Mexico Toluca | |
| 2001 | Juan Román Riquelme | Argentina | Argentina Boca Juniors | |
| 2000 | Romario | Brazil | Brazil Vasco da Gama | |
| 1999 | Javier Saviola | Argentina | Argentina River Plate | |
| 1998 | Martín Palermo | Argentina | Argentina Boca Juniors | |
| 1997 | Marcelo Salas | Chile | Argentina River Plate | |
| 1996 | José Luis Chilavert | Paraguay | Argentina Vélez Sársfield | |
| 1995 | Enzo Francescoli | Uruguay | Argentina River Plate | |
| 1994 | Cafu | Brazil | Brazil São Paulo | |
| 1993 | Carlos Valderrama | Colombia | Colombia Atlético Junior | |
| 1992 | Raí | Brazil | Brazil São Paulo | |
| 1991 | Oscar Ruggeri | Argentina | Argentina Vélez Sársfield | |
| 1990 | Raúl Amarilla | Paraguay | Paraguay Olimpia | |
| 1989 | Bebeto | Brazil | Brazil Vasco da Gama | |
| 1988 | Rubén Paz | Uruguay | Argentina Racing Club | |
| 1987 | Carlos Valderrama | Colombia | Colombia Deportivo Cali | |
| 1986 | Antonio Alzamendi | Uruguay | Argentina River Plate | |
| 1985 | Romerito | Paraguay | Brazil Fluminense | |
| 1984 | Enzo Francescoli | Uruguay | Argentina River Plate | |
| 1983 | Sócrates | Brazil | Brazil Corinthians | |
| 1982 | Zico | Brazil | Brazil Flamengo | |
| 1981 | Zico | Brazil | Brazil Flamengo | |
| 1980 | Diego Maradona | Argentina | Argentina Argentinos Juniors | |
| 1979 | Diego Maradona | Argentina | Argentina Argentinos Juniors | |
| 1978 | Mario Kempes | Argentina | Spain Valencia | |
| 1977 | Zico | Brazil | Brazil Flamengo | |
| 1976 | Elías Figueroa | Chile | Brazil Internacional | |
| 1975 | Elías Figueroa | Chile | Brazil Internacional | |
| 1974 | Elías Figueroa | Chile | Brazil Internacional | |
| 1973 | Pelé | Brazil | Brazil Santos | |
| 1972 | Teófilo Cubillas | Peru | Peru Alianza Lima | |
| 1971 | Tostão | Brazil | Brazil Cruzeiro |
