Ponte scored seven goals in 33 domestic appearances, while finishing as joint top-scorer with five goals as the Reds landed the Champions League crown last month.

The 31-year-old former Guarani and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder suffered a knee injury in the final J.League game as the Reds missed out on landing the domestic crown and was unable to attend the ceremony after returning home to Brazil to undergo treatment.

He also missed out at the Reds finished third in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan last week after defeating African champions Etoile du Sahel in a penalty shoot-out.

"I'm so delighted to receive a prize like this, which I owe to my team-mates, club staff and my beloved supporters," said Ponte in a statement read out by team-mate Suzuki.

"There were some disappointments as we missed out the J. League title and I picked up an injury. But we became the Asian champions and finished third in the Club World Cup. So, all in all it turned out to be a good season."

Reds defenders Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Yuki Abe, midfielder Keita Suzuki and goalkeeper Ryota Tsuzuki were joined in the best XI by Gamba Osaka trio Satoshi Yamguchi, midfielder Yasuhito Endo and striker Bare.

Endo has been named in the team of the year for the last five seasons, equalling the record of former Japan internationals Masami Ihara and Mitsuo Ogasawara.

Kawasaki Frontale midfielder Kengo Nakamura and his Brazilian team-mate Juninho along with defender Daieki Iwamasa from J. League champions Kashima Antlers completed the line-up.

Kashima's Brazilian manager Osvaldo Oliveira won the Manager of the Year award after guiding the Antlers to the J. League title, while Yokohama FC goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno won the rookie of the year accolade and Juninho landed the top goal-scorer's prize after netting 22 goals.