Copa America Player of the Tournament Power Ranking: Lionel Messi facing serious competition….
There have been some twists and turns in the group stage of the Copa America and the standout players so far have been a mix of established superstar names and surprise packages.
Players from Real Madrid, Inter Milan, AC Milan, West Ham, Liverpool and Inter Miami are among the standouts so far, as we approach four mouth-watering quarter-final clashes.
We’ve picked out 10 early contenders that have so far stood out to us in the early stages of the 2024 Copa America. Here are our mid-tournament Player of the Tournament Power Rankings, which we’ll keep updated as the knockout stages progress.
10. Emiliano Martinez (NEW)
Gianluigi Donnarumma was named Player of the Tournament at the last Euros, but never before has a goalkeeper won the Copa America’s Player of the Tournament award.
Aston Villa’s No.1 was named the Best Goalkeeper after his penalty shootout heroics at the last Copa America, and that dead-eyed penalty-saving ability may come in handy once again.
Argentina have a relatively favourable route to the Miami final, with Colombia, Brazil and Uruguay all on the other side of the draw, but we can definitely envisage a scenario in which there’s a tight, low-scoring draw and Martinez is called upon to be the hero once again.
He’s been well-protected and hasn’t had to do a great deal just yet, but he’s made six saves to keep a flawless clean sheet record so far.
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9. Rafael Romo (=)
If you’ve been paying attention to South American international football, you’ll no doubt know that Venezuela are something of a coming force.
They’re the only CONMEBOL side to have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, although that record could change come 2026, and have never made it beyond the semi-finals of the Copa America.
We’re now feeling pretty smug about describing them as “this year’s surprise package” in our pre-tournament power rankings, given they’ve beaten Ecuador and Mexico and qualified for the last eight with a game to spare.
They’re there in large part thanks to some goalkeeping heroics from one-time Watford loanee Romo, who currently plies his trade for Ecuadorian club Universidad Catolica. He made five vital stops, including a penalty save, and was undoubtedly Venezuela’s standout player in the all-important 1-0 win over Mexico.
Romo kept another clean sheet as Venezuela beat Jamaica 3-0 in their final group stage outing and will be in a confident mood ahead of the quarter-final against Jesse Marsch’s Canada.
8. Moise Bombito (=)
Copa America debutants Canada have also qualified for the last eight, from a tough group that includes champions Argentina, having conceded just two goals across their three group stages matches.
There are any number of Canadian players that could justifiably have made this ranking, including star men Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies, but we couldn’t look past Colorado Rapids centre-back Bombito.
The 24-year-old was a rock at the back as Jesse Marsch’s well-organised ground out back-to-back clean sheets, making it to the final eight at the expense of established Copa America stalwarts Peru and Chile.
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7. Vinicius Junior (↓1)
The Ballon d’Or contender found himself faced with a landslide of criticism following his meek showing in the opener against Costa Rica, in which Brazil boss Dorival Junior shifted him across the forward line to little success, eventually withdrawing him with 20 minutes to go.
This is a man that’s scored in two Champions League final victories with Real Madrid and has shown up time and again on the biggest stages in club football. Yet there remains a sense in Brazil that he’s yet to emulate Neymar, who was considerably more prolific at the same age, or the other icons of Brazilian football by reproducing his club form on the international stage.
The 23-year-old had an answer for his critics against Paraguay, scoring twice before half-time to give Brazil a commanding lead. He might’ve had a hat-trick had he taken the penalty midway through the second half.
But he once again drew a blank as Brazil failed to top their group by only drawing 1-1 with Colombia in their last outing. With in-form Uruguay next, then likely a Colombia rematch, then most probably Argentina in the final – Vinicius has a lot of weight on his shoulders to deliver in big games to come.
6. Lucas Paqueta (↑1)
Over in Europe, Germany’s era-defining midfielder Toni Kroos is treating to us a wonderful last dance. Every knockout game could be his last in professional football, having announced his decision to walk away at the very peak of his powers.
The same could be said for Paqueta, albeit for entirely different reasons. The West Ham schemer may find himself banned from the game for life if found guilty of betting offences, despite being just 26 years of age.
Whatever happens next, he’s been a joy to watch. Brazil have stuttered somewhat so far, drawing two and winning one of their three matches so far. Paqueta might not be their best player, but he might just be their most important. The man that makes them tick, pulling the strings from midfield.
Brazil looked worse after he was withdrawn at the break against Colombia, although it could be argued he was at fault for not tracking the run for Daniel Munoz’s equaliser. Swings and roundabouts.
5. Darwin Nunez (↓1)
Forget everything you know about Darwin Nunez: Liverpool Striker. That strange, wildly inconsistent forward is presumably having a summer off in Merseyside.
No, instead the Copa America has been treated to Darwin Nunez: Uruguay Striker. That’s a different proposition entirely. A dead-eyed hotshot that’s recently scored in seven successive appearances on the international stage, including their successive Copa victories over Panama and Bolivia.
Nunez failed to extend that goalscoring run to eight games against the USA, but he was still a lively menace in a 1-0 victory.
Watch out, Brazil.
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4. James Rodriguez (↑1)
The Colombian has struggled over recent years as current trends in the club game have moved away from the use of a classic No.10, but he continues to deliver the goods for his country.
Watch him with the ball at his feet and this could be 2014. You’re 10 years younger. Close your eyes and you can just hear ITV’s Brazil, Braziiiiil theme.
In all seriousness, he was nothing short of wonderful in Colombia’s opening victories over Paraguay and Costa Rica, topping the assists chart by setting up three of his side’s six goals so far.
The Sao Paulo veteran showed a more mature, positionally astute side to his game when Colombia ground out a 1-1 draw with Brazil, topping their group, and extending their current unbeaten run to 26(!) matches.
3. Federico Valverde (=)
There’s a strong argument that Uruguay, not World Cup holders Argentina, have been the best side in South America since Bielsa was appointed last year.
They’ve beaten both Brazil and Argentina in qualifying and have kicked off this year’s Copa America by sticking a combined eight goals past Panama and Bolivia.
Real Madrid star Federico Valverde, fresh from winning another Champions League, is the man who sets the tempo from midfield. You’d swear he’d been developed in a lab as Bielsa’s perfect player, such is his inspired mix of energy and technical ability.
As ever with Bielsa teams, this is a collective effort. We’ve already picked out Nunez, while Manchester United transfer target Manuel Ugarte and Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo are worthy of honourable mentions, but we just can’t look past Valverde such is his class.
He’s probably not a glamorous enough name, but if he were to lead Uruguay to Copa America glory, he should definitely be in contention for the Ballon d’Or.
2. Lautaro Martinez (=)
The early front-runner for the Golden Boot is averaging a goal every 30 minutes, having only started one of Argentina’s three group-stage matches.
Coming into this tournament off the back of his best season yet for Inter, winning the Cappocannoniere award for Serie A’s top scorer after firing the Nerazzurri to the title, he looks in a confident mood.
At the World Cup, Martinez started out with Lionel Scaloni’s faith up top before losing his place to Julian Alvarez. This time around he’s scored off the bench against Canada and Chile and marked his first start with two goals. Surely he’s done enough to displace Alvarez for the upcoming knockouts.
Ultimately, though, if Argentina were to go far or even retain the trophy, it’ll be difficult to look past you know who…
READ: Where are they now? Every Copa America Golden Boot winner since 2004
1. Lionel Messi (=)
We just can’t look past him. Even after turning 37 and in his twilight years, he remains Argentina’s talisman, central to everything they do going forward.
He wasn’t at his vintage best in the opener against Canada, but even on an off night where he fluffed a couple of presentable opportunities to score, he set up Martinez for the second goal and created five more big chances.
The woodwork denied him against Chile on a frustrating evening, but he was once again the best player on the pitch. That was despite struggling with a thigh problem, while their early qualification allowed him to be rested in the relative dead rubber against Peru.
Expect him to be hungry, fresh, fit and firing for the knockout stages. We fully expect Messi to captain Argentina in yet another major final – at Miami Gardens, no less – come July 15th.