Two Argentines included 

Lionel Messi misses out - Most valuable XI at Copa América including six Brazilians

©TM/IMAGO

The Copa América gets underway on June 21 as reigning champions Argentina face Canada in Atlanta. The United States will host the prestigious tournament for the second time with 16 nations, from two continents, competing to lift the trophy next month. 

World Cup winners Argentina are favourites to retain their Copa América crown in potentially Lionel Messi’s last international tournament. Brazil have the most valuable squad at the tournament and they’ll be determined to prevent their arch rivals from winning the tournament for a record 16th time. Brazil’s talisman Vinicius Jr is the most valuable player at Copa América at €180 million with his Real Madrid teammate Federico Valverde ranking second at €120m. Both players feature in the most valuable Copa America XI but who else makes the starting eleven? Let’s find out!

The most valuable Copa América XI

The combined XI has a total market value of €916m and Brazil No.1 Alisson takes the goalkeeper spot. The Liverpool star is favoured ahead of Ederson for Brazil but the Manchester City isn’t even part of this squad due to injury. The back four comprises players from four separate nations and it features the only non South American player in the XI – Alphonso Davies. The Bayern Munich left-back is Canada’s biggest star and he’s valued at €50m. 

As the graphic illustrates, Nahuel Molina is the least valuable player in the team at €28m but the Atletico Madrid man takes the right-back spot. The centre-back partnership has a combined market value of €140m with Brazil’s Gabriel and Uruguay’s Ronald Araujo both valued at €70m. Two Brazilians in Lucas Paquetá and Bruno Guimarães form the midfield trio alongside Uruguay’s Valverde. Paqueta and Guimaraes will be aiming to showcase their ability on the biggest stage as they’ve both been linked with big moves this summer but the former is facing a potentially lengthy ban due to betting violations. Brazil and Real Madrid teammates Vinicius and Rodrygo hold the two wing positions with Argentina’s most valuable player Lautaro Martínez leading the line.