Neymar voted South America's best player

 SAO PAULO, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- Santos and Brazil superstar Neymar has been voted South America's best player for the second successive year by Uruguayan newspaper El Pais.

The 20-year-old beat Corinthians striker Paolo Guerrero, who scored the winning goal in the World Club Cup final against Chelsea, and compatriot Lucas Moura to the prize.

Neymar received 199 votes from sports journalists across Uruguay, giving him the award by some distance. Guerrero came in second with 50 votes.

Recent Paris Saint-Germain acquisition¹ Lucas was third, with Ronaldinho Gaucho² fourth and Fluminense's Fred fifth.

The Santos striker continues to attract interest from the world's biggest clubs but has insisted that he will stay at his boyhood club until after the World Cup in 2014.

Argentine legend Juan Roman Riquelme also received recognition³. The former Barcelona midfielder retired⁴ after this year's Copa Libertadores when Boca Juniors were defeated by Corinthians.

According to reports in the Brazilian press he could be ready to return however, with Paulista club Palmeiras reportedly ready to offer the player a short-term deal.

1 acquisition   

n.取得，学到，养成（习惯），获得的东西

参考例句：

• The children progressed in the acquisition of basic skills.孩子们在掌握基本技术方面取得了进步。
• He devotes his time to the acquisition of knowledge.他把时间都花在求知上。

2 gaucho   

n. 牧人

参考例句：

• Outside the city there are many countryside ranches for city dwellers to live the gaucho life,or just enjoy country life in the pampas,the grasslands outside buenos aires.城外有许多农庄，可以供城市居民前往居住和体验牛仔生活，或者只是去享受一下草原上的农家生活。
• There are many working estancias where tourists can live out the gaucho lifestyl

3 recognition   

n.承认，认可，认出，认识

参考例句：

• The place has changed beyond recognition.这地方变得认不出来了。
• A sudden smile of recognition flashed across his face.他脸上掠过一丝笑意，表示认识对方。

4 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。