Neymar won the vote by a record margin, securing 130 votes, whilst second placed Eduardo Vargas of Universidad de Chile managed just 70. Neymar was joined in the top three places by his club team-mate Ganso, who came in just behind the Chilean.
Other Brazilians to feature in the standings were Vasco centre-back Dedé in 12th place and Danilo, who tied with Ronaldinho for a joint 18th position.
In 2011, Neymar inspired Santos to their first Copa Libertadores triumph in fifty years, scored regularly for his country at senior level, won the South American Under-20 Championships and scored freely for his club in all competitions.
The question remains as to whether the 19-year-old will still be in South America next year to defend his title.
1º Neymar – Santos
2º Eduardo Vargas – Universidad de Chile
3º Ganso – Santos
4º Arévalo Rios – Tijuana-MEX
5º Rolando Schiavi – Boca Juniors
6º Néicer Reasco – LDU Quito
7º Claudio Rodríguez – Boca Juniors
8º Jhonny Herrera – Universidad de Chile
9º Juan Román Riquelme – Boca Juniors
10º Hernán Barcos – LDU Quito
Team of the Year
Herrera (Universidad de Chile); Reasco (LDU), Marcos González (Universidad de Chile), Schiavi, Clemente Rodríguez (Boca Juniors); Arévalo Rios (Tijuana), Paulo Henrique Ganso (Santos), Riquelme (Boca Juniors); Neymar (Santos), Hernán Barcos (LDU), Eduardo Vargas (Universidad de Chile).
