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Overview
- El País selected Flamengo’s Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, and Racing’s Adrián Martínez as the three finalists for the continental honor.
- Arrascaeta logged 64 matches with 25 goals and 20 assists, powering Flamengo to the Carioca, Supercopa, Brasileiro and Libertadores before a penalty-shootout Intercontinental Cup loss to Paris Saint‑Germain.
- Messi produced 43 goals and 26 assists in 49 games, guiding Inter Miami to its first MLS title and earning the league’s MVP award.
- Martínez scored 22 goals in 45 appearances as Racing won the Recopa Sudamericana, reached the Libertadores semifinals and finished runners-up in Argentina’s Clausura.
- The coaching shortlist features Flamengo’s Filipe Luís, Racing’s Gustavo Costas and Paraguay manager Gustavo Alfaro.