O winner of the prestigious King of America 2025 award will be announced this Wednesday (12/31), probably in the early hours of the morningby the Uruguayan newspaper “El País”, organizer of the honor. Although there is no confirmed exact time, the result will be published simultaneously in the print edition of “El País”, in the sports newspaper “Ovación” and on the digital platforms of both vehicles.
This year’s edition has three strong finalists: Arrascaeta (Flemish), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami-USA) and Adrian Martinez (Racing-ARG), with the latter “running on the outside”. The election is carried out with votes from South American sports journalists selected by “El País” – in 2024, 244 professionals participated in the vote.
👉 The 40th edition of the El País survey, in which more than 250 journalists participate, will announce the most outstanding on the day of this December 31.
▶️ https://t.co/ZVc979ec4i pic.twitter.com/DbN25AyZL7
— OVATION (@ovacionuy) December 30, 2025
Created in 1986, the King of America award annually recognizes the best player who plays for clubs in the three Americas (South, Central and North), regardless of nationality. The last winner was Brazilian Luiz Henrique, Botafogo’s standout in 2024.
What did the players competing for King of America 2025 do?
Arrascaeta – The red-black maestro
The Uruguayan midfielder had an exceptional season for Flamengo, playing 64 games, scoring 25 goals and distributing 20 assists. Arrascaeta was a key player in winning four titles: Campeonato Carioca, Supercopa do Brasil, Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa Libertadores. Furthermore, he led the club to the final of the Intercontinental Cup, finishing runner-up after a penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
His performance earned him recognition as Craque do Brasileirão and Craque da Libertadores in 2025. This is not the first time that the Uruguayan has competed for the award: he came second in 2022 and third in 2019.
Lionel Messi – A lenda argentina
The Argentine star played in 49 games for Inter Miami, with impressive numbers: 43 goals scored and 26 assists. Messi was mainly responsible for the club’s historic campaign in the unprecedented victory of Major League Soccer (MLS), being awarded as the best player in the championship at the end of the competition. In 2024, the star had come in fifth place in the voting.
Adrián Martínez – A “Maravilla”
Known as “Maravilla”, the Racing striker made 45 appearances this season, scored 22 goals and contributed three assists. With Racing, he won the Recopa Sul-Americana, reached the semi-finals of the Libertadores and was runner-up in the Clausura Tournament of the Argentine Championship.
Who will be the King of America 2025? 🤔🤔
Messi, Arrascaeta and “Maravilla” Martínez are the finalists for the continent’s best player award in the 2025 season. 🏆🌎#Messi #Arrascaeta #AdrianMartinez #Soccer #Sofascore pic.twitter.com/OUSOnIM3h4
— Sofascore Brasil (@SofascoreBR) December 28, 2025
El País: other awards up for grabs
In addition to the King of America, the winners of two more categories will be announced:
Best Coach in America
The finalists are Filipe Luís (Flemish), Gustavo Costas (Racing-ARG) e Gustavo Alfaro (Paraguay national team).
Filipe Luís led Flamengo in 73 games, with 48 victories, winning the Brazilian Super Cup, Campeonato Carioca, Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa Libertadores, as well as participating in the Intercontinental Cup and Club World Cup.
Gustavo Costas led Racing to win the Recopa Sul-Americana and the semi-finals of the Libertadores, eliminating River Plate and Boca Juniors along the way.
Gustavo Alfaro qualified Paraguay for the World Cup after a 16-year absence, finishing the South American Qualifiers in sixth place.
The last winner was the Portuguese Artur Jorge, who led Botafogo to the Brasileirão and Libertadores titles in 2024.
Queen of America
The finalists are Gabi Zanotti (Corinthians), Marta (Orlando Pride) e Claudia Martinez (Olimpia-PAR).
Gabi Zanotti, current title holder, had another brilliant season at the age of 40, being Corinthians’ top scorer with 19 goals and leading the team to win the sixth Libertadores championship and the seventh Brasileirão women’s title.
Marta, at 39 years old, was decisive in winning the Copa América for the Brazilian team, scoring two goals in the final against Colombia and being named star player of the competition.
Cláudia Martínez, at just 17 years old, was the great revelation of women’s football, being the top scorer in the Copa América with six goals and standing out in the under-17 World Cup.
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King of America: All the Winners
| Again | Player | Nationality | Club(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Antonio Alzamendi | Uruguay | River Plate |
| 1987 | Carlos Valderrama | Colombia | Sports Cali |
| 1988 | Ruben Paz | Uruguay | Racing |
| 1989 | Bebeto | Brazil | Flamengo / Vasco |
| 1990 | Raul Amarilla | Paraguay | Olympiad |
| 1991 | Oscar Ruggeri | Argentina | Velez Sarsfield |
| 1992 | Rai | Brazil | São Paulo |
| 1993 | Carlos Valderrama | Colombia | Atlético Junior |
| 1994 | Cafu | Brazil | São Paulo |
| 1995 | Enzo Francescoli | Uruguay | River Plate |
| 1996 | José Luis Chilavert | Paraguay | Velez Sarsfield |
| 1997 | Marcelo Salas | Chile | River Plate |
| 1998 | Martin Palermo | Argentina | Boca Juniors |
| 1999 | Javier Saviola | Argentina | River Plate |
| 2000 | Romário | Brazil | Vasco |
| 2001 | Juan Roman Riquelme | Argentina | Boca Juniors |
| 2002 | Jose Cardozo | Paraguay | Toluca |
| 2003 | Carlos Tevez | Argentina | Boca Juniors |
| 2004 | Carlos Tevez | Argentina | Boca Juniors |
| 2005 | Carlos Tevez | Argentina | Corinthians |
| 2006 | Matias Fernandez | Chile | Colo-Colo |
| 2007 | Salvador Cabañas | Paraguay | America-MEX |
| 2008 | Juan Sebastian Veron | Argentina | Students |
| 2009 | Juan Sebastian Veron | Argentina | Students |
| 2010 | D’Alessandro | Argentina | International |
| 2011 | Neymar | Brazil | Santos |
| 2012 | Neymar | Brazil | Santos |
| 2013 | Ronaldinho Gaucho | Brazil | Atlético Mineiro |
| 2014 | Teofilo Gutierrez | Colombia | River Plate |
| 2015 | Carlos Sanchez | Uruguay | River Plate |
| 2016 | Miguel Borja | Colombia | National Athletic |
| 2017 | Luan Guilherme | Brazil | Grêmio |
| 2018 | Pete Martínez | Argentina | River Plate |
| 2019 | Gabriel Barbosa | Brazil | Flemish |
| 2020 | Marine | Brazil | Santos |
| 2021 | Julian Alvarez | Argentina | River Plate |
| 2022 | Pedro | Brazil | Flemish |
| 2023 | German Cano | Argentina | Fluminense |
| 2024 | Luiz Henrique | Brazil | Botafogo |
America’s Best Coach Award: All Winners
| Again | Technical | Nationality | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Carlos Bilardo | Argentina | Argentine national team |
| 1987 | Carlos Bilardo | Argentina | Argentine national team |
| 1988 | Roberto Fleitas | Uruguay | National-URU |
| 1989 | Sebastian Lazaroni | Brazil | Brazilian team |
| 1990 | Luis Cubilla | Uruguay | Olympiad |
| 1991 | Alfio Basile | Argentina | Argentine national team |
| 1992 | Telê Santana | Brazil | São Paulo |
| 1993 | Francisco Maturana | Colombia | Colombian national team |
| 1994 | Carlos Bianchi | Argentina | Velez Sarsfield |
| 1995 | Hector Nunez | Uruguay | Uruguay national team |
| 1996 | Hernán Darío Gómez | Colombia | Colombian national team |
| 1997 | Daniel Passarella | Argentina | Argentine national team |
| 1998 | Carlos Bianchi | Argentina | Boca Juniors |
| 1999 | Luiz Felipe Scolari | Brazil | Palm trees |
| 2000 | Carlos Bianchi | Argentina | Boca Juniors |
| 2001 | Carlos Bianchi | Argentina | Boca Juniors |
| 2002 | Luiz Felipe Scolari | Brazil | Brazilian team |
| 2003 | Carlos Bianchi | Argentina | Boca Juniors |
| 2004 | Luis Fernando Montoya | Colombia | Once Caldas |
| 2005 | Aníbal Ruiz | Uruguay | Paraguayan national team |
| 2006 | Claudio Borghi | Argentina | Colo-Colo |
| 2007 | Gerardo Martino | Argentina | Paraguayan national team |
| 2008 | Edgardo Bauza | Argentina | LDU |
| 2009 | Marcelo Bielsa | Argentina | Chilean national team |
| 2010 | Oscar Tabarez | Uruguay | Uruguay national team |
| 2011 | Oscar Tabarez | Uruguay | Uruguay national team |
| 2012 | José Pékerman | Argentina | Colombian national team |
| 2013 | José Pékerman | Argentina | Colombian national team |
| 2014 | José Pékerman | Argentina | Colombian national team |
| 2015 | Jorge Sampaoli | Argentina | Chilean national team |
| 2016 | Reinaldo Rueda | Colombia | National Athletic |
| 2017 | Tite | Brazil | Brazilian team |
| 2018 | Marcelo Gallardo | Argentina | River Plate |
| 2019 | Marcelo Gallardo | Argentina | River Plate |
| 2020 | Marcelo Gallardo | Argentina | River Plate |
| 2021 | Abel Ferreira | Portugal | Palm trees |
| 2022 | Lionel Scaloni | Argentina | Argentine national team |
| 2023 | Fernando Diniz | Brazil | Fluminense |
| 2024 | Arthur Jorge | Portugal | Botafogo |
Queen of America: all the winners
| Again | Player | Nationality | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Tamires | Brazil | Corinthians |
| 2022 | Linda Caicedo | Colombia | Sports Cali |
| 2023 | Priscilla | Brazil | International |
| 2024 | Gabi Zanotti | Brazil | Corinthians |
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