The news agency Prensa Latina has announced the outcomes of its annual survey to select the top athletes in Latin America, with Cuba achieving a historic sweep by securing all three major awards: Best Female Athlete, Best Male Athlete, and Best Team.
According to the agency, this marks only the second occasion in the history of the poll—first occurring in 1989—that a single nation has dominated every category.
Triple jumper Leyanis Pérez emerged as the favorite from the start of the voting on November 21 and was crowned Best Female Athlete after receiving 73 votes, in a field that featured 17 nominees.
In the male category, left-handed pitcher Liván Moinelo, a champion in Japan's professional baseball league, made history by becoming the first Cuban baseball player to win the Best Male Athlete award in Latin America. In this 61st edition, Moinelo garnered 42 ballots, comfortably surpassing Argentina's Lionel Messi, who finished second with 19 votes.
The Best Team category was the most fiercely contested until the poll's conclusion. The Cuban youth baseball 5 team, world champions in Nayarit, Mexico, staged a comeback in the final votes, securing the accolade with 37 votes, just four more than Argentina's national soccer team, the Albiceleste.
More than 110 votes were cast by media outlets from Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. In total, 113 media organizations participated, of which 70 were foreign and 43 Cuban. For the second consecutive year, Alma Plus TV took part in the process, reaffirming its commitment to regional sports journalism.
The award ceremony is scheduled for January 9 at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, where a tribute will also be paid to legendary high jumper Javier Sotomayor, Cuba's most successful figure in the poll's history with five titles.
Prensa Latina's voting tradition began in 1964, when Cuban sprinter Enrique Figuerola was the first to win. The Best Team of the Year category was added in 1980, and separate distinctions for male and female athletes were established in 1988. The only prior instance of a complete Cuban sweep occurred in 1989, with Sotomayor, Ana Fidelia Quirot, and the women's volleyball team.
Insights into Cuba's Dominance in Latin American Sports Poll
What significant achievement did Liván Moinelo accomplish in the poll?
Liván Moinelo became the first Cuban baseball player to win the Best Male Athlete award in the Latin American poll's history.
When is the award ceremony scheduled, and what special tribute will take place?
The award ceremony is set for January 9 at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, where a tribute to legendary high jumper Javier Sotomayor will also occur.
How many media organizations participated in the poll?
A total of 113 media organizations participated, with 70 being foreign and 43 Cuban.