The 2024 Copa America, like the EURO, provides some challenges when it comes to selecting a Best XI.
Several big-time performers carry some warts heading into the final, some of their own doing and some no fault of their own.
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Let’s start with a man who had four dynamite games but collected a red card in the semifinal. Looking at you, Crystal Palace defender Daniel Munoz. He scored twice and added an assist but put Colombia’s tournament in jeopardy during the semi and didn’t play in the final.
Then there’s Lautaro Martinez, who is stuck behind Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez on the Argentina depth chart. He led the tournament in scoring with five goals, including the winner in extra time of the final.
And what about Venezuela, who looked set to put multiple players on the Best XI after winning its group but saw their tournament fizzle in penalties against Canada?
Even Lionel Messi’s inclusion would carry some raised eyebrows, but his relatively quiet goal and assist in five games comes with a tournament-best seven big chances created, as well as 13 total chances created, 1.7 expected assists, and 0.85 xG+xA/90 minutes. All of those stats are top three at Copa America.
We’ll do our best...
2024 Copa America Best XI of tournament
GK - Maxime Crepeau, Canada
DF - Davinson Sanchez, Colombia
DF - Cristian Romero, Argentina
DF - Carlos Cuesta, Colombia
MF - Jose Andres Martinez, Venezuela
MF - Manuel Ugarte, Uruguay
MF - Federico Valverde, Uruguay
MF - Alexis Mac Allister, Argentina
MF - James Rodriguez, Colombia
FW - Lionel Messi, Argentina
FW - Lautaro Martinez, Argentina