Part II of the Award Winners series focuses on South America and its Player Of The Year. Since 1986, Uruguayan newspaper El País has been the official selector of “Rey del Fútbol de América” (America’s King Of Football). Even though the award has been around since 1971. The 2 greatest of all time have won this award: Pele & Maradona. It is unique in that it is awarded to a South American player plying their trade in the Americas the exception was 1978 when Argentina’s Mario Kempes won while playing for Valencia. Here are the 3 best candidates for the 2008 title of “Rey del Fútbol de América”:

Joffre Guerron

The young Ecuadorean winger is the new starlet of South American football and the favorite to win the South American P.O.Y.  At 23, he was an important part of the Liga De Quito side that this year won Ecuador’s 1st ever Copa Libertadores. Guerron was named the player of the tournament as his speed and ball control made him the face of Liga’s championship side.  He has since moved on to La Liga side Getafe but his exploits with Los Albos are legendary.

Christian Benítez

You might be saying WHO? Christian Benítez is another talented youngster that Ecuador can look upon for the future. He’s 22 and along with Argentinean Vicente Vuoso formed a lethal goalscoring combination that led Santos Laguna to the 2008 Mexican Clausura title. In the ’08 Apertura tournament Benítez is tied for 2nd on the goalscoring list and has been an important part of the national team’s balanced scoring attack.

Giancarlo Maldonado

Since his arrival to Atlante in Mexico, Maldonado has become an idol as he led Atlante to the ’07 Apertura title. What he did in ’07 was irrelevant since this is an ’08 award but since that season he has been Atlante’s and Venezuela’s leading goal scorer. El Vinotinto is no longer the push over of South America and a massive reason why is the emergence of Giancarlo Maldonado.

The deserving winner of the title “Rey del Fútbol de América” is:
Joffre Guerron

This one is hands down. When you are the best player on the best team in South America then you get the trophy for the player of the year. 2008 is truly a historic year for Ecuadorean club football. Guerron leads Liga De Quito to the nation’s 1st Libertadores trophy and now he is line to be the 1st Ecuadorean to be crowned “Rey del Fútbol de América.” Too bad he won’t be there when Liga participate in their 1st FIFA World Club Cup.

We finish up the Award Winners with Part III – a look at the candidates for African Player Of The Year.