With Copa America 2024 complete, it’s time to take a look at the best performers from this summer’s competition and award players with a spot in our Team of the Tournament.
Argentina defeated Colombia in extra time to win a record-setting 16th Copa America trophy breaking a tie with Uruguay. This is Argentina’s second Copa America victory in a row with a World Cup in between making it three international trophy lifts in a row.
The tournament had its ups and downs, a fair share of controversy, standout moments and monumental failures. Looking at you, U.S. men’s national team.
It was a competition of resurgences and redemption for certain players. For others, it was about cementing themselves as the best of the best on an international stage.
Here’s 90min’s Copa America 2024 Team of the Tournament.
Argentina v Colombia – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024: Final / BSR Agency/GettyImages
GK: Emiliano Martinez – Argentina/Aston Villa
Argentina v Colombia – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024: Final / Omar Vega/GettyImages
Emiliano Martinez might be one of the most polarizing players today. He’s got his fans and his haters, but Argentinians and Aston Villa fans at that know just how special of a goalkeeper he is. If you’re just finding out about the man they call Dibu, you’d be shocked to know he only started getting his flowers this decade.
Three tournaments in a row, three Golden Glove awards. Outside of Lionel Messi, no player is more valuable to La Albiceleste than Dibu. He conceded just one goal all tournament.
LB: Jon Aramburu – Venezuela/Real Soceidad
Venezuela v Canada – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024 / Ron Jenkins/GettyImages
Aramburu was one of Venezuela’s standout players this tournament. At just 21-years-old, the Real Sociedad defender had 20 tackles in the final third and assisted Solomon Rondon on his goal against Canada in the quarter-finals.
CB: Davinson Sanchez – Colombia/Galatasary
Uruguay v Colombia – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024 / Robin Alam/ISI Photos/GettyImages
The former Tottenham Hotspur defender was fantastic for Colombia all tournament long completing every game. He scored one goal as well in the group stage against Costa Rica.
CB: Cristian Romero – Argentina/Tottenham Hotspur
Argentina v Colombia – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024: Final / Maddie Meyer/GettyImages
Cristian Romero is quickly establishing himself as one of the best defenders in the world. If William Saliba was the best defender of the Euros, Romero is the Copa America equivalent. Argentina’s defense conceded just one goal all tournament. His partnership with Lisandro Martinez is only going to get better and they’ll be the top pairing come 2026.
RB: Daniel Munoz – Colombia/Crystal Palace
Uruguay v Colombia – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024 / Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/GettyImages
While Munoz’s tournament ended early after picking up a red card against Uruguay in the semi-finals, he was still one of the best defenders in the entire tournament. On top of his defensive prowess, he scored two goals and assisted once during the tournament.
CM: Federico Valverde – Uruguay/Real Madrid
Uruguay v Canada – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024: Third Place Match / Omar Vega/GettyImages
Valverde capped off his successful club season with a third place finish at Copa America. The team will feel like it could’ve done more against a 10-man Colombia in the semi-finals, but Valverde continued to show why he’s one of the best midfielders in the world.
CM: Manuel Ugarte – Uruguay/Paris Saint-Germain
Uruguay v Colombia – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024 / Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/GettyImages
PSG’s Ugarte played every game for Uruguay partnering Valverde in the middle of the pitch. The 23-year-old has a bright future at both club and international levels.
CM: James Rodriguez – Colombia/Sao Paolo
Argentina v Colombia – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024: Final / BSR Agency/GettyImages
You can’t have a Team of the Tournament without including the Golden Ball winner. The shot of James accepting the award after losing the final is one of heartbreak, but it shouldn’t overshadow his performances this tournament.
No player assisted more than James this tournament. The feel-good factor of a player who announced himself on the world’s stage back in 2014 returning to his best was one of the best stories of the entire tournament.
FW: Jacob Shaffelburg – Canada/Nashville SC
Uruguay v Canada – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024: Third Place Match / Grant Halverson/GettyImages
For all the hype USA had coming in as CONCACAF’s best hope, it was Canada who rose up and carried the federation this tournament. A fourth-place finish in its first-ever Copa America under newly appointed head coach Jesse Marsch is no small feat.
Nashville SC’s forward was the standout player for the Reds putting in consistent performances all tournament long. Canada is a must-watch project moving forward toward the World Cup.
FW: Luis Diaz – Colombia/Liverpool
Colombia v Paraguay – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024 / Hector Vivas/GettyImages
Diaz scored two goals this tournament becoming the third-highest scorer for his country at Copa America. The Liverpool attacker struggled to have a major impact in the final, but his performance in the semi-final to help get Colombia over the line showed how invaluable he is.
Eyes shift focus back to Liverpool now as Diaz prepares for his first season under Arne Slot.
ST: Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan/Argentina
Argentina v Colombia – CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024: Final / Omar Vega/GettyImages
Two years ago, Lautaro Martinez and Argentina lifted the World Cup. For many, La Albiceleste won that tournament in spite of his performances. He ended up losing his starting role to Julian Alvarez, but this tournament was a redemption arc for the Inter Milan player on the international state. Either off the bench or in the starting lineup, Martinez was the attacking catalyst. He scored the most goals of any player in the tournament lifting the Golden Boot.
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Publish date : 2024-07-15 14:20:15
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