Santos’ Neymar has recieved the prestigious Rey del fútbol de América from Uruguayan publication El Pais for being the best player in South America in 2012.
The award, which translates as ‘King of South American Football’, was presented to Neymar by Santos president Paulo Schiff at the ceremony.
Neymar was voted for the award by a panel of 300 journalists up and down the continent with Corinthians’ Paolo Guerrero coming in second and PSG’s Lucas Moura in third.
“Everyone asks me the same question but I have a contract with Santos until 2014 and I am happy here with my family and my friends,” the striker told journalists at the ceremony.
“That is not what I’m looking for,” when asked if he wanted to be the best in the world. “My goal is to help Santos and the Brazilian team. To be the best player in the world is a consequence of that work.”
“Neymar will stay with Santos until 2014. Afterwards, he can extend that deal if the club wish to do so,” said his father Neymar Da Silva, who was also present.
