Tim Vickery picks out the stars who could light up this summer’s Copa America
1 RODRYGO
BRAZIL
Given his senior Brazil debut at the tender age of 18, Rodrygo has been a great Brazilian hope for many years. So far in the national team, though, he has not quite taken on the burden of responsibility – the missed penalty in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final shootout against Croatia perhaps gave a hint that maybe it had all come too soon.
But his time could be now. The squad is packed full of wingers, but if deep opposing defences are able to nullify their pace then patience and guile will be needed. Rodrygo could be the man to supply it.
Such a gifted all-round footballer, with a clear capacity to think under pressure, it might be up to him to link the attack together. Capable of operating all across the frontline, or just behind it, Rodrygo could use this Copa America to announce himself as Brazil’s number ten.
2 Dario OSORIO
CHILE
It has been a long, hard wait for Chile to produce youngsters up to the task of replacing the golden generation of the Copa triumphs in 2015 and 2016. There have been a few false dawns, but maybe things will be different with rising talent Osorio.
This will surprise those who followed the South American Under-20 Championship at the start of last year, where Osorio was almost a parody of ineffective adolescent petulance. But a fine debut season in Midtjylland in Denmark appears to have matured the 20-year-old.
A lanky, leggy, left-footed winger who likes to cut in from the right, Osorio was a revelation in the March friendlies, impressive against Albania and even better away to France, where he set up several moments of danger and scored his first international goal with a crisply-struck shot from outside the penalty area.
3 Kendry PAEZ
ECUADOR
Great excitement surrounds the first senior tournament of a talent so special that he was scoring and setting up goals in World Cup qualification aged just 16.
The latest – and potentially greatest – Independiente del Valle prodigy, Paez will join Chelsea next summer. Unlike the vast majority at his age, he will make the move not as a mere promise, but as an established international accustomed to taking on responsibility – and this tournament should be a fascinating part of his education.
A versatile, left-footed attacking midfielder, he stands out not only for his individual talent, but also for his fluid capacity to combine at pace with his team-mates.
4 James RODRIGUEZ
COLOMBIA
A decade on from his World Cup breakthrough in Brazil, the riddle of James grows ever more complex.
He appears to have gone on a global tour of frustration, taking in ten countries, with flashes of greatness interspersed with injury issues and doubts about his attitude.
