HAVANA, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt and Uruguayan footballer Luis Suarez lead on the votes of the Cuban Press Agency Prensa Latina (PL) to choose the best sportsperson of the year in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Prensa Latina sources on Sunday confirmed thant Bolt and Suarez share the lead with 27 votes each.
In third place with 12 votes is Argentinian player Lionel Messi, star striker of the Spanish club Barcelona, European champions and winners of the World Club Championship.
Messi is also a candidate for the Golden Football tophy.
Other sportsmen also voted were Brazilian swimmer Cesar Cielo, swimming world champion in short course pools, winner of four golden medals in the Pan American Games Guadalajara 2011 with five votes.
Among sports women, the leader of votes is Colombian triple jumper Catherine Ibarguen, bronze medalist in the world championships in Daegu, South Korea, and Pan American Games champion in Guadalajara, with 39 votes.
In second place was Brazilian pole jumper Fabiana Murer, gold medal winner in the world championships and second place in Guadalajara. She's got 24 votes.
In third place was Cuban disk thrower Yarelis Barrios, gold medal winner in the world championships in Daegu and in the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, with nine votes.
Among teams, the virtual winner will be the national soccer team of Urugay, with 68 votes. Uruguay won the America's Cup in Argentina.
Next is Brazilian soccer club Santos, champions of the Libertadores Cup and finalist in the World Club Championship, with seven votes.
Voting deadline will be on Thursday, December 22nd and that same day Prensa Latina will announce the winners in each category.
