If Bruno Fornaroli proves Sydney FC's nemesis on Saturday night, then the Uruguayan could stay on track to become the fourth Latin American to win the Johnny Warren Medal.

The Uruguayan has scored 17 goals this season and should he join Marcos Flores, Carlos Hernandez and Fernando Rech in being crowned player of the year, then his native region will become the area that has produced the greatest number of winners of the A-League's highest individual award.

Jamie Maclaren is in form, but City have their own super striker in Bruno Fornaroli. Credit:Getty Images

What the Middle East is for oil, South America is for footballers. It's a production economy Europe tapped into more than half a century ago, Asia for three decades yet for all the success of the imports, it's a market the A-League has largely ignored.

Australia's relationship with South American football has never extended beyond irregular flings. There's no shortage of admiration and plenty of flirting, so much so that 36 Brazilians have gone through the turnstiles. However more than half of those wouldn't register in the minds of the most rusted-on fans.