La Paz - Argentinean Lionel Messi and Brazilian Neymar started their struggle to conquer the Award for the Latin American and Caribbean Best Athlete of the Year in the sports survey of Cuban news agency Prensa Latina, dividing the votes of four Bolvian press media between themselves Tuesday.

Messi, the winner of 5 Golden Balls and Champion of the King's Cup of Spain this year with pro club FC Barcelona, received the support of Bolivian Radio Patria Nueva and televisión Bolivisión, to get his first two votes in the poll.

Brazilian Neymar, now 25 years old, obtained the support of the Bolivian Information Agency (ABI) and television network Bolvia TV. Now both are heading the men's voting list for the award.

After these two soccer stars there are Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas (Real Madrid) who ontained the preference of Bolivian newspaper Cambio, and Venezuelan baseball player and Major League Baseball star Jose Altuve, favored by a vote by the website of Mexican Gazzetta DF.

In the category of Best Female Athlete, the Brazilian judoka Mayra Aguiar came to four votes and took the top, on having obtained the favor of ABI, Bolivia TV, Radio Patria Nueva and Bolivisión.

Aguiar, 26, conquered in 2017 its second world title in the 78 kilograms, on having overcome Japanese Mami Umeki in the final of the World Championship of Budapest.

The South American judoka added her fifth medal in world champioinships, all in the same category, after the silver of Tokyo 2010, the bronzes of Paris 2011 and Rio of Janeiro 2013, and the gold in Cheliabinsk-2014.

Another world monarch of 2017, the Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas, received the support of Cambio , after overcoming Colombian Caterine Ibargüen, twice universal champion, in the competiton in London.

Mexican archer Aida Román, silver for teams in the world championship in Mexico and recent champion in the first stop of the World Cups in Marrakech, Morocco, also adds a vote, just as Rojas.

For Best Team of the Year Radio Patria Nueva, Bolivisión, Cambio and Bolivia TV granted preferences to the Brazilian soccer team, winner of the South American qualifying rounds to Russia 2018, and to the female volleyball team of Brazil.

ABI for its part, only delivered its support to the Brazilian soccer team, leader of the survey with five votes, all of them of the Bolivian media.

The votings will be able to be sent across the electronic address of the Office of Sports of Prensa Latina: Esta dirección de correo electrónico está protegida contra spambots. Usted necesita tener Javascript activado para poder verla..