Giorgian De Arrascaeta closed out 2025 as the most voted player on the continent, finishing ahead of Lionel Messi in the Rei da América election, an award presented by Uruguay’s El País newspaper since 1986. The Flamengo midfielder received 179 votes out of a possible 264, while Messi earned 39, a wide gap that reflects the specific scope of the award, which is focused exclusively on performances across the South American season. The vote placed Arrascaeta at the top after a year defined by trophies, constant presence in decisive matches, and strong numbers.
The player who finished ahead of Messi
Arrascaeta played 64 official matches for Flamengo in 2025, scoring 25 goals and providing 20 assists. Throughout the season, he featured in the club’s main achievements, including the Campeonato Carioca, the Supercopa do Brasil, the Brazilian Championship, and the CONMEBOL Libertadores. Flamengo also reached the Intercontinental Cup final but were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain on penalties. The volume of matches, his consistency, and his direct involvement in goals help explain why the Uruguayan led the voting by a comfortable margin.
Messi, in turn, had a high-impact season with Inter Miami. He played 49 matches, scored 43 goals, and added 26 assists, while helping the club win the first MLS title in its history. The Argentine was also named the league’s best player. Even so, he accounted for 14.8 percent of the votes in the El País election, finishing second overall. The outcome shows that, despite the impressive numbers, the competition context and continental focus weighed heavily in the voters’ decision.
Flamengo extends its presence in the awards
Beyond Arrascaeta’s individual honor, Flamengo also stood out off the field. Filipe Luís was voted the best coach in the Americas in 2025, edging out Gustavo Costas of Racing and Gustavo Alfaro of Paraguay’s national team. In charge of the Rio club, the coach recorded 48 wins, 16 draws, and nine losses during the season, figures that supported his selection. Flamengo’s presence in two of the award’s main categories underlined the club’s standing on the continental stage.
Returning to the Rei da América award itself, it carries a long and carefully maintained tradition. The previous winner had been Luiz Henrique in 2024, when he was playing for Botafogo. Arrascaeta had already appeared among the top vote-getters in past editions, finishing second in 2022 and third in 2019. In 2025, however, the Uruguayan moved up one more step and ended the year at the top of the list, ahead of one of the most recognizable names in the history of the sport, in a vote that reflected what unfolded on the field throughout the season.