Most disappointing gamers of Copa America 2024

Probably the most disappointing gamers of Copa America 2024 didn’t contribute to their groups when it mattered most, and a few even (actually) failed to point out up.

As James Rodriguez, Lautaro Martinez, and Fede Valverde proceed to impress at Copa America 2024, different star gamers couldn’t even discover the again of the online for his or her nations this summer time, resulting in shocking group stage exits and quarter-final upsets. The truth is, a few the most important (and greatest) gamers on the planet delivered lackluster performances that stained their in any other case good 2023/24 campaigns.

This is a breakdown of the 5 most underwhelming gamers representing their nations at Copa America 2024.

5. Enner Valencia (Ecuador)

Enner Valencia will look again on his Copa America 2024 efficiency and suppose what might have been. The striker was despatched off in Ecuador’s first group stage match in opposition to Venezuela, after which served his one-game suspension in opposition to Jamaica. Valencia was fortunate his crew nonetheless earned sufficient factors to complete in second place of Group B and advance to the knockout rounds.

Though Ecuador’s probabilities of beating the reigning champions, Argentina, within the quarter-finals had been slim, La Tri might have had the upset of the match had Valencia delivered. The captain missed a penalty within the 62nd minute that may have put his facet degree with La Albiceleste.

If Valencia scored from the spot, Ecuador would have went on to win the sport 2-1. As an alternative, they misplaced in a penalty shootout.

4. Tim Weah (USA)

Though a number of USMNT gamers had a quite disappointing Copa America, Tim Weah made essentially the most detrimental mistake of all of them. The winger was despatched off within the 18th minute in opposition to Panama within the USA’s second group stage match. Weah struck Roderick Miller at the back of the top, incomes himself a straight pink and a two-game suspension.

The USA would go on to lose 2-1 to Panama, all-but diminishing their probabilities at advancing to the knockout rounds. Gregg Berhalter’s facet then needed to face Uruguay of their ultimate group stage match with out Weah, they usually failed to attain, ending their Copa America 2024 marketing campaign on residence soil earlier than it barely started.

3. Santiago Gimenez (Mexico)

All eyes had been on Santiago Gimenez for Mexico forward of this summer time’s Copa America. The 23-year-old scored 26 targets throughout all competitions for Feyenoord within the 2023/24 season, and in addition bagged the winner within the CONCACAF Gold Cup ultimate final yr.

The striker began all three group stage video games for Mexico, however did not report a single objective or help in his 219 minutes performed. El Tri had been projected to make it out of Group B, and but they may not even rating a couple of objective all match. Gimenez’s failure up high despatched Mexico residence early.

2. Rodrygo (Brazil)

Rodrygo is one other participant that failed to search out the again of the online at Copa America 2024. In 4 matches, the Actual Madrid participant recorded simply two photographs on the right track and by no means seemed overly harmful within the ultimate third.

The shortage of playmaking from Rodrygo is unacceptable, particularly after he discovered the again of the online 16 instances for Los Blancos throughout all competitions this previous season, and tallied eight assists. It’s price noting, although, that Dorival Junior began the 23-year previous at striker in three of Brazil’s 4 matches, and that’s not Rodrygo’s pure or most popular place.

1. Vinicius Jr. (Brazil)

Vinicius Jr. is surely essentially the most disappointing participant at Copa America 2024. The 2-time Champions League winner got here into the competitors because the frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or after his 24-goal season for Actual Madrid, however failed to point out up when it mattered for Brazil.

Vini Jr. scored a brace in opposition to Paraguay, however that was the primary and solely time he discovered success this summer time. Within the Selecao’s different two group stage matches, the 23-year-old was just about invisible, and didn’t generate many goalscoring alternatives.

To cap off his underwhelming group stage, Vini Jr. earned a one recreation suspension for yellow card accumulation, and due to this fact missed Brazil’s quarter-final match in opposition to Uruguay. Dorival Junior’s squad would go on to lose to La Celeste in a penalty shootout.