MONTEVIDEO, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- With just 24 hours left to go, Argentine winger Juan Sebastian Veron is taking the lead in the contention for the best soccer player of America award for 2009 which is organized by Uruguayan newspaper El Pais.

    Veron is captain of Argentina's national soccer squad and of LaPlata team Estudiantes, which won this year's Libertadores Cup.

    The 34-year-old midfielder is eight points ahead of Chilean striker Humberto Suazo, who plays for Mexican team Monterrey, and 10 points ahead of Ecuadorian winger Edison Mendez, who plays for Ecuadorian team Liga de Quito.

    The 2009 award will be announced on Wednesday.