Our 3 favorites for the Copa America top scorer title
Making a bet or prediction on the top scorer in a major competition (Copa America, Euro or even the World Cup) is not a simple exercise. Obviously, our experts took the plunge to offer you their analysis, with the contenders, outsiders and the editorial team’s big favorite. An asset and an additional string to your bow for your Copa America 2024 predictions, which will guide you throughout the competition.
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No. 1: Lionel Messi for one last dance
Are we going to witness Lionel Messi’s last major competition with the Albiceleste?
Aged 36 (37 on June 24), Pulga is no longer in top form, but is enjoying the end of his career in MLS with his friends and former teammates (Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets) . If he has long chased a trophy with his country, he has won the last two tournaments played: the Copa America in 2021 and, of course, the World Cup in 2022.
If he dreams of a hat-trick to finish at the top, he will have the opportunity to win a second Copa in a row with Argentina. And, of course, as usual, number 10 will want to win everything in his path, including the competition’s top scorer trophy.
As usual, number 10 will want to take everything in its path
Crowned top scorer in the Copa America for the very first time in his career during the last edition with 4 goals (tied with Luis Diaz), the former Barcelona player intends to leave with this individual trophy a second time in a row. In any case, he is once again the big favorite, whether among the bookmakers with an average odds of 4.00, or among the observers.
At Sportytrader, we also believe that there does not seem to be a huge competition for Lionel Messi this year, although many good strikers will take part in this Copa America 2024.
In any case, we place it as our big favorite! Argentina’s top scorer, well ahead with 106 goals (Gabriel Batistuta is second with 55 goals), intends to increase his lead during the tournament!
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No. 2: Vinicius must wear the Seleçao
That the Real Madrid striker has progressed in recent seasons.
Having become a benchmark offensive player in the world of football, the Brazilian left winger is a hit with the white jersey and shakes the nets. But, with Brazil, it’s a very different story: long in the shadow of Neymar, Vinicius has only scored 3 times in 30 matches played with the Seleçao jersey! Statistics which obviously recall his first years with Real…
Now free from competition with Neymar, who left for Saudi Arabia and has been injured since the start of the season anyway, Vini now wears number 10 in Brazil and will have to be the offensive leader of this team.
Bookmakers place him in second position
And, he knows how to sublimate himself and has already proven it with Real Madrid in major competitions and big meetings. We just saw it again during the last Champions League final. Proof of this is that, despite fairly poor statistics in the selection, the bookmakers place him in second position, just behind Lionel Messi, with odds of 5.00 for the title of top scorer of this Copa America 2024.
He will obviously count on his attacking friends at Real, Rodrygo and Endrick (who will join the Madrid club this summer) to make him shine and try to finish the competition with this personal distinction!
As for our editorial staff, it wouldn’t be so surprising to see him shake the nets in this tournament, he who was replaced as a false 9 under Ancelotti this season and who knows how to be decisive in front of goal!
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No. 3: Darwin Nunez in Uruguayan continuity
To close our top 3, a name that could potentially surprise some as it is renowned for its lack of finish.
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez is indeed sometimes messy in front of goal, but at least has the merit of creating numerous situations and never giving up.
After having released great attackers like Diego Forlan, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez this year, Uruguay is counting on its coach Marcelo Bielsa to transform the talented Nunez into a real killer in the area.
11 goals in the Premier League this season and 5 in the Europa League
Author of 11 goals in the Premier League this season and 5 in the Europa League, the record remains very interesting, and the Celeste striker intends to shine during this Copa America 2024. During the preparation, he also scored a hat-trick against Mexico!
Third favorite of the bookmakers with odds of 7.00 (tied with the Argentinian Julian Alvarez, who could well have the spotlight stolen by his teammate Lionel Messi), the former Benfica Lisbon scorer will therefore, in our opinion, not be at underestimate and could hurt in a very playful team under Bielsa.
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Top scorer of the Copa America 2024: the outsiders
After having mentioned our three big favorites for the title of top scorer of the Copa America 2024, let’s address a few candidates who, according to us, will be worth watching although their presence in first place in this ranking is difficult to envisage at the end of the tournament.
To start, Lautaro Martinez who, once again, had a very solid year with Inter Milan, finishing champion but also top scorer in Serie A with 24 goals in 33 matches. He will be in competition with Julian Alvarez, who has played and scored significantly less with Manchester City this year. The odds for the Inter attacker are 9.00 to finish top scorer in the Copa.
Then, Endrick, young scorer from Palmeiras who will join Real Madrid after this Copa America, will also be one to watch. The young 17-year-old striker, having played only 6 times for Brazil, has already scored 3 goals, and not against just anyone.
During the March rally, for example, he only played 65 minutes in total against England and Spain, scoring two goals at Wembley and the Santiago Bernabeu! And, a few days ago, he scored the winning goal against Mexico in a friendly in the 96th minute!
With odds of 20.00 on average among bookmakers, why not take a chance on the young talent?
Liverpool’s Colombian striker Luis Diaz will also be one to watch
Then, how can we not mention the one who competed with Messi, finishing tied in number of goals during the last Copa America. Liverpool’s Colombian striker Luis Diaz will also be one to watch, who has scored 8 goals with the Reds this season in the Premier League.
Finally, two players who are still playing in Ligue 1 at the moment: Folarin Balogun, from AS Monaco, and Jonathan David, scorer for LOSC.
The first city, flamboyant with Reims last year (21 league goals in 37 matches), was slightly less decisive for his first season in the Monegasque jersey (7 goals and 5 assists in 29 matches). With his 3 goals in 11 matches with Team USA, he intends to achieve a great performance with his country for his first major competition.
Just above the United States is Canada! And, if the star player of the Canucks remains Alphonso Davies, the country with the maple leaf also has a formidable attacker in its squad, in the presence of Jo David.
The striker, who has been playing for Lille for 4 seasons now in Ligue 1, has left his mark on the championship by very often being decisive with his club. After 24 goals last year in the league alone, he has scored another 19 this season, in addition to 3 goals in the Coupe de France and 4 in the Conference League. In selection, he has 26 goals in 48 matches! He and Balogun have odds of 50.00 with the bookmakers so, if you want to try for very big odds, one of the two could well interest you!
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