In the 40th edition of the traditional awards ceremony of the newspaper “El País”, Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Flemish), surpassed Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) e Adrian Martinez (Racing), and was elected the King of America 2025 this Wednesday (31), to end the year with the most classic honor on the continent. Furthermore, Gabi Zanotti (Corinthians) was elected to Queen of America by overcoming the legendary Marta (Orlando Pride) and the Paraguayan promise Claudia Martinez (Olympiad). Filipe Luís (Flamengo), in turn, received the coach of the year award, ahead of Gustavo Costas (Racing) e Gustavo Alfaro (selection of Paraguay).
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In this edition, 264 journalists participated in the vote. Arrascaeta received 179 votes (67.8%) and won with a wide advantage over Messi, who had 39 (14.8%), while “Maravilla” completed the podium. In the female category, Zanotti obtained 71 votes, ahead of Marta, with 27, and Martínez, 17 years old, with 19. Among the coaches, Filipe Luís won 191 of the 264 possible votes (72%), surpassing Alfaro, second place with 23 votes (8.7%), and Costas, third.
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Arrascaeta in 2025 🤴
A constant presence in the competition for the award — third place in 2019, fifth in 2021 and runner-up in 2022 — the red-and-black attacking midfielder enjoyed the highest scoring season of his career, a factor that qualifies him as champion. In total, he scored 25 goals and 20 assists for Flamengo, decisive numbers for the team’s achievements. Carioca Championshipyes Brazilian Super Cupdo Brazilian Championshipyes Copa Libertadores and two of the three titles played in the Copa Intercontinentalo Derby of the Americas ea Copa Challengerin addition to finishing as the team’s top scorer for the year. All collective glories under the command of Filipe Luís.
Kings of America 📜
2025 – Giorgian De Arrascaeta – Flamengo (BRA)
2024 – Luiz Henrique – Botafogo (BRA)
2023 – Germán Cano – Fluminense (BRA)
2022 – Pedro – Flamengo (BRA)
2021 – Julián Álvarez – River Plate (ARG)
2020 – Marinho – Santos (BRA)
2019 – Gabriel Barbosa – Flamengo (BRA)
2018 – Pity Martínez – River Plate (ARG)
2017 – Luan – Grêmio (BRA)
2016 – Miguel Borja – Atlético Nacional (COL)
2015 – Carlos Sánchez – River Plate (ARG)
2014 – Teófilo Gutiérrez – River Plate (ARG)
2013 – Ronaldinho – Atlético-MG (BRA)
2012 – Neymar – Santos (BRA)
2011 – Neymar – Santos (BRA)
2010 – D’Alessandro – International (BRA)
2009 – Verón – Students (ARG)
2008 – Verón – Students (ARG)
2007 – Salvador Cabañas – America of Mexico (MEX)
2006 – Matías Fernández – Colo-Colo (CHI)
2005 – Carlos Tévez – Corinthians (BRA)
2004 – Carlos Tévez – Boca Juniors (ARG)
2003 – Carlos Tévez – Boca Juniors (ARG)
2002 – Cardozo – Toluca (MEX)
2001 – Juan Román Riquelme – Boca Juniors (ARG)
2000 – Romário – Vasco (BRA)
1999 – Javier Saviola – River Plate (ARG)
1998 – Martín Palermo – Boca Juniors (ARG)
1997 – Marcelo Salas – River Plate (ARG)
1996 – Chilavert – Vélez Sársfield (ARG)
1995 – Enzo Francescoli – River Plate (ARG)
1994 – Cafu – São Paulo (BRA)
1993 – Carlos Valderrama – Junior Barranquilla (COL)
1992 – Raí – São Paulo (BRA)
1991 – Oscar Ruggeri – Vélez Sársfield (ARG)
1990 – Raúl Amarilla – Olimpia (PAR)
1989 – Bebeto – Vasco (BRA)
1988 – Ruben Paz – Racing Club (ARG)
1987 – Carlos Valderrama – Deportivo Cali (COL)
1986 – Antonio Alzamendi – River Plate (ARG)
1985 – Romerito – Fluminense (BRA)
1984 – Enzo Francescoli – River Plate (ARG)
1983 – Sócrates – Corinthians (BRA)
1982 – Zico – Flamengo (BRA)
1981 – Zico – Flamengo (BRA)
1980 – Diego Maradona – Argentinos Juniors (ARG)
1979 – Diego Maradona – Argentinos Juniors (ARG)
1978 – Mario Kempes – Valencia (ESP)
1977 – Zico – Flamengo (BRA)
1976 – Elías Figueroa – International (BRA)
1975 – Elías Figueroa – International (BRA)
1974 – Elías Figueroa – International (BRA)
1973 – Pelé – Santos (BRA)
1972 – Teófilo Cubillas – Lima Alliance (PER)
1971 – Tostão – Cruzeiro (BRA)
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Gabi Zanotti em 2025 👸
The Brazilian repeated her achievement from the previous year and became the first athlete to win the award consecutively. During the season, Zanotti was one of Corinthians’ pillars in the victorious campaigns of the Brazilian Championship and the Copa Libertadores Womenwith 44 matches played and 19 goals scored by the club in 2025. When including friendlies for the Brazilian teamachieved 20 goals in the year, six of them decisive in the path to the continental title.
In the four previous editions of the Queen of America award, Brazil led on three occasions. In 2021, the side Tamiresthen at Corinthians, was the winner; in 2023, the attacker Priscillaat the time in Internationaltook the trophy. Hegemony was interrupted in 2022 by the Colombian Linda Caicedotoday in Real Madridfrom Spain, who then defended the Sports Cali.
Origins 🌎
Created in the 1970s by the Venezuelan newspaper “El Mundo”, the award initially chose South American players who played for any club in the world. In 1986, when “El País” took over the organization, the format was reformulated: since then, only athletes and coaches active on the continent can compete. The choice is made by journalists from different countries, who vote for the best players and the best coach of the season.
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