Argentine striker Carlos Tevez has become the first to be named South America's top football player for a third straight year.
Tevez scored 20 goals to help lead Corinthians to its first Brazilian national title since 1999. The 22-year-old Tevez received 77 votes in the annual poll of the continent's sports writers. He finished well ahead of the 54 received by Diego Lugano of Uruguay, who helped Sao Paulo capture the Copa Libertadores crown. Brazilian Cicinho, who plays for Real Madrid in Spain, was third with 37 votes.
After four years with Argentina's Boca Juniors, Tevez transferred to Corinthians one year ago and finished third in scoring in the Brazilian national championship behind Romario with 22 goals and Robson with 21.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
