Montevideo -
The Brazilian Luan Vieira was chosen as the best football player in America in 2017, according to a survey by the Uruguayan newspaper El País published this Sunday, in which the Uruguayan Jonatan Álvez, scorer for Barcelona SC, ranked sixth best.
The survey, among 368 sports journalists from all over the continent, highlighted Luan for his contribution to Gremio de Porto Alegre winning the Copa Libertadores this year. The Brazilian was the second top scorer in the tournament and participated in the Club World Cup, in which Gremio was the runner-up after losing 1-0 to Real Madrid.
Luan received 182 votes, far above his rivals Paolo Guerrero, who received 65, and the Brazilian midfielder Arthur Henrique who got 46 mentions. In fifth place was the Argentine Darío Benedetto with 24 votes and in sixth position the striker Jonatan Álvez with 6 votes.
Among the 28 players voted in El País' survey, the Ecuadorians Máximo Banguera (goalkeeper), Enner Valencia (forward), Juan Cazares (right winger) and Óscar Bagüí (left back) were not included, although they were considered by the Uruguayan media.
Tite, Coach of the Year
Tite received 112 votes from sports journalists compared to the 93 preferences for the Argentine Ricardo Gareca, who qualified the Peruvian national team for a World Cup for the first time in 36 years.
El País' 32nd edition of the survey also chose the ideal team of America composed of the Brazilians Luan, Arthur, Marcelo Grohe and Pedro Geromel, the Argentines Lautaro Acosta, José Sand, Nicolás Tagliafico, Diego Braghieri, Ezequiel Barco and José Luis Gómez, as well as the Peruvian Guerrero. (D)