A competition of soccer is about to kick off in america, because the Copa America sparks into motion.
Argentina, the reigning champions, get the ball rolling after they face Canada within the opening Group A match, and Lionel Messi would be the most important man as ever for La Albiceleste.
Messi was the joint-leading scorer on the 2021 Copa America, netting 4 objectives to guide the standings alongside Colombia’s Luis Diaz.
The Barcelona nice is predicted to be proper up there once more in the case of the 2024 Copa America Golden Boot race, and right here, we dive into the principle candidates for that award.
Lionel Messi
Not solely did Messi end as joint-top scorer on the 2021 Copa, he was additionally the main assister after which, 18 months later, he went on to guide Argentina to World Cup glory, scoring seven objectives within the course of, from 6.6 anticipated objectives – solely Kylian Mbappe (eight) netted extra occasions in Qatar.
As quickly as he options for Argentina at this match, Messi will turn into the Copa America’s all-time report holder for appearances – he’s tied with Chile nice Sergio Livingstone on 34, because it stands.
Messi has scored 13 Copa America objectives, which places him joint-seventh on the all-time record, alongside fellow Argentina nice Gabriel Batistuta. If he is ready to replicate his 4 objectives from the 2021 version, then Messi will be part of Norberto Mendez and Zizinho on the prime of the all-time charts – that’s except Peru’s Paolo Guerrero and/or Chile’s Eduardo Vargas have been to web at the very least 4 occasions every to set a brand new report.
Because the begin of the 2011 Copa, Messi has had 102 pictures – greater than every other participant. Surprisingly, his conversion fee stands at simply 10.78 per cent, which stands because the second-lowest out of any participant to have netted at the very least 5 objectives within the competitors in that point.
However there might be no doubting Messi’s genius, and the little magician is getting into what is going to absolutely be his last Copa in positive type – he has scored 12 objectives in MLS for Inter Miami this season, outperforming his 8.3 xG and averaging a objective each 86 minutes.
Argentina are the Opta supercomputer’s favourites to win the Copa, and group matches towards Canada, Chile and Peru present Messi with a beneficial leaping off level to win the Golden Boot once more.
Vinicius Junior
Contemporary from successful the Champions League with Actual Madrid (and scoring within the last – once more), Vinicius heads into the Copa America as Brazil’s talisman.
With Neymar absent by means of harm, the onus will fall on the winger to supply the artistic spark and medical edge to pull what appears like a extra dogged, workmanlike squad by means of to the latter levels – Brazil are, based on our mannequin, second favourites behind Argentina, with a 23 per cent win likelihood.
If the Selecao are to problem the holders, then they want Vinicius in prime type.
Whereas he performed as a split-striker for Madrid this season as Carlo Ancelotti discovered a method to get the most effective out of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius is extra prone to play large left for his nation, although his chopping runs from out-to-in will make him a continuing menace, so long as the likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta can choose him out.
Vinicius netted 24 occasions for Los Blancos in 2023-24, and tried 286 dribbles – 10 greater than every other participant in Europe’s prime 5 leagues throughout all competitions. He averaged 8.4 take-on makes an attempt per 90, a tally bettered by solely Jeremy Doku, whereas Vinicius additionally boasts a dribble completion fee of three.3 per 90.
He’s but to attain on the Copa America, nevertheless. That being mentioned, he didn’t make a single begin in 2021, with all 4 of his appearances coming in its place, having just one shot and finishing solely considered one of his seven dribbles. However such has been his stellar type beneath Ancelotti within the intervening three years, there is no such thing as a doubting he’s now Brazil’s most important man.
Brazil face Costa Rica, Paraguay and in-form Colombia in Group D, however none of these defences ought to strike worry into Vinicius.
Luis Diaz
Diaz loved an outstanding marketing campaign three years in the past, scoring two absolute screamers – one got here within the group stage, an overhead kick towards Brazil, whereas the opposite got here within the third-place play-off as Colombia beat Peru; it was a stunner from exterior the world, with the then-Porto winger lashing into the top-right nook after skipping in from the flank and taking up a number of defenders.
Certainly, the standard of Diaz’s finishes are proven by his xG in 2021, which was simply 1.0. And Diaz’s wonderful taking pictures at that version is additional evidenced by his anticipated objectives on course (xGoT) determine of two.2.
Diaz had solely 10 pictures, 18 fewer than Messi, but boasted a massively spectacular 40 per cent shot conversion fee. Solely Messi (57) and Neymar (77), in the meantime, tried extra dribbles than Diaz (43) on the 2021 version, whereas it was simply that famous person duo that accomplished extra dribbles, too (Neymar 35, Messi 34, Diaz 26).
His performances at that match piqued the curiosity of Premier League sides, and Diaz subsequently moved to Liverpool in January 2022. So whereas he won’t be fairly the unknown amount that he was three years in the past, if he’s at his finest, he’ll nonetheless be massively tough to cease – particularly with James Rodriguez pulling the strings behind him.
Darwin Nunez
Bookending this record of the highest Golden Boot contenders is Uruguay’s Darwin Nunez. The Liverpool striker has been very good beneath Marcelo Bielsa, and appears to be El Loco’s most important attacker, even with Luis Suarez within the squad.
Nunez scored 11 Premier League objectives for the Reds in 2023-24, however underperformed his xG (16.4) by 5.4. Whereas he was unlucky in a way – he hit the woodwork on 9 events, 4 extra occasions than every other participant – he was additionally erratic in his ending, together with his xGoT dropping to fifteen.5. Nunez additionally missed 14 huge possibilities, which ranked behind solely Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Haaland (34).
The 24-year-old could by no means be ultra-clinical, (he had a shot conversion fee of 10.2 per cent within the Premier League within the season simply gone) however his tempo, tenacity and work fee make him the best Bielsa folly up prime.
Nunez scored a hat-trick in Uruguay’s 4-0 demolition of Mexico earlier in June, whereas he’s the main goalscorer in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying, with 5 to his identify.
Uruguay head into the match in positive fettle, and Bielsa will at all times be prepared to danger all of it in assault – which means loads of alternatives ought to come Nunez’s manner.
They’re in a gaggle with the hosts USA, Panama and Bolivia – the worst-ranked crew within the match – so Nunez must be aiming to make a dent early on.
Different contenders
Lautaro Martinez
Martinez has had an impressive season for Inter, who he led to the Scudetto whereas ending as prime scorer in Serie A, scoring 24 objectives in 33 appearances, and comfortably outperforming his 17.6 xG.
Nonetheless, he has not netted for Argentina in 2026 World Cup qualifying, and isn’t a daily starter beneath Lionel Scaloni, so possibilities will not be of a premium for him. That being mentioned, he did rating twice in Argentina’s 4-1 win over Guatemala on Friday.
Endrick
Boy surprise Endrick, who will hyperlink up with Vinicius, Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe at Actual Madrid subsequent season, has scored three objectives for Brazil in his final three appearances.
He scored these in successive matches, although he was unable to turn into the primary Selecao participant since Neymar in 2021 to web in 4 consecutive video games as Dorival Junior’s crew drew 1-1 with the USA in a warm-up match. At 17, Endrick appears like a famous person within the making, and he could possibly be an outdoor wager for the Golden Boot.
Luis Suarez
Uruguay’s all-time main scorer Suarez is bang in type heading into this match. The veteran has 68 objectives in 138 caps and has netted 12 occasions already for Miami in MLS this season, averaging a objective each 96 minutes.
Of gamers to attain at the very least 5 occasions in MLS in 2024, Suarez has the fourth-highest shot conversion fee, too (33.33 per cent). Uruguay are ranked because the third-favourites by the Opta supercomputer, so Suarez might have loads of matches so as to add to his worldwide objectives tally.
Christian Pulisic
The USA can’t discover a lot consistency beneath Gregg Berhalter, although they did draw 1-1 with Brazil in a pleasant on June 13. If the hosts are to make a severe run, then they might want to channel by means of Pulisic.
Whereas he’s extra prone to act as a creator, the attacker has proved he’s greater than able to placing away possibilities. He scored 15 objectives for Milan in 2023-24, making it the most effective goalscoring marketing campaign of his profession.