The Uruguayan midfielder, who recently won the Copa Libertadores with Flamengo, won the award for the continent's best player of the season
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Giorgian De Arrascaeta finished a consecratory year at the very top. After winning the Copa Libertadores and the Brasileirão with Flamengo, the playmaker was crowned as the best South American footballer who plays on the continent in the traditional poll organized by the newspaper El País de Uruguay, which has spent four decades choosing the "King of America".
The result was categorical: De Arrascaeta swept with 67.8% of the votes, far surpassing Lionel Messi (14.8%) and Adrián "Maravilla" Martínez (5%), who completed the podium. Meanwhile, in this edition of the vote, number 40, it reached a record participation with 264 journalists, including 33 Argentines.
The Uruguayan's season backs him. At club level, in addition to the multiple collective titles with Mengão, he was chosen as the best player in the Libertadores, he was top scorer and main assist provider for Mengão at the domestic level, while with his national team he secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
His consecration also meant a milestone for Uruguayan football. Uruguay once again had a King of America after ten years, when Carlos Sánchez had achieved it while shining at River.
Meanwhile, Filipe Luís prevailed as best coach for his work at Flamengo with 72% of the votes, surpassing Argentines Gustavo Alfaro (Paraguay national team; 8.7%) and Gustavo Costas (Racing, 5.6%),
The recognition also included the selection of the ideal eleven of the continent, with Albiceleste presence. The voted line-up was:
Regarding women's football, the "Queen of America" was Brazilian Gabi Zanotti. The Corinthians midfielder was chosen by 34% of the voters, followed by her compatriot Marta Vieira da Silva (Orlando Pride; 13%) and Paraguayan Claudia Martínez (Olimpia; 9%).
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For the second consecutive year, the star from Rosario was left empty-handed in one of the two individual awards that he still hasn't been able to win. In the previous edition, the first in which he was able to participate, since he completed a full season on the continent with Inter Miami, he had finished fifth, far behind the winner Luiz Henrique, who won the Libertadores and the Brasileirão that year with Botafogo.
In addition to this award, the only other recognition he still has left to obtain is the Puskás Award, for which he was nominated on seven occasions since its creation in 2009, but which he has never been able to win.
