Best players of Copa America 2024 - ranked | OneFootball

The best players of Copa America 2024 all brought silverware home for their teams after impressive, instrumental performances in the United States this summer.

After three weeks of scintillating matches, Copa America 2024 came to end with Argentina defeating Colombia to win their record-breaking 16th Copa America title. Lionel Messi might have led La Albiceleste, but it was his supporting cast and his opponents that grabbed all the headlines throughout the tournament. The best players from the top three teams of the competition all proved to be invaluable members to their national teams.

Here's a breakdown of the five best Copa America 2024 players ranked.

Best players of Copa America 2024 - ranked

5. Fede Valverde (Uruguay)

Fede Valverde led Uruguay to their third place finish. / Omar Vega/GettyImages

On paper, Fede Valverde's tournament statistics are nothing to brag about, but the midfielder was instrumental in Uruguay's Copa America 2024 run. In each match, he was typically the player completing the most passes, and could create a goalscoring opportunity out of seemingly nothing.

Although he only has one goal to show for his efforts this summer, the Real Madrid man also scored a penalty in Uruguay's penalty shootouts against Brazil and Canada, leading his team to victories in both matches and securing a third place finish.

4. Cristian Romero (Argentina)

Cristian Romero was the best defender at Copa America 2024. / Omar Vega/GettyImages

Cristian Romero was without a doubt the best defender at Copa America 2024. Alongside Lisandro Martinez, the Tottenham man was a brick wall in front of Emiliano Martinez, and often kept Argentina in close matches, especially against Colombia when Los Cafeteros' attack looked primed to score.

La Albiceleste only conceded one goal when Romero was on the pitch, and the defender deserves huge credit for the four clean sheets he helped keep in the five matches he played.

3. Emiliano Martinez (Argentina)

Emiliano Martinez won the Copa America 2024 Golden Glove. / BSR Agency/GettyImages

Emiliano Martinez played every single minute for Argentina this summer, coming up massive for his side time and time again when they needed him most. The keeper only conceded one goal the entire tournament, and in the same match, he went on to make two saves in the penalty shootout to send Argentina to the semi-finals.

Martinez's five clean sheets, including one against Colombia in the Copa America 2024 final, earned him the Golden Glove award.

2. Lautaro Martinez (Argentina)

Lautaro Martinez won the Golden Boot at Copa America 2024. / BSR Agency/GettyImages

In just 222 minutes, Lautaro Martinez scored five goals for Argentina, including the winner that secured La Albiceleste their record-breaking 16th Copa America title. In fact, he scored the winners against Chile and Peru in the group stage as well to send his country to the top of Group A.

Martinez was Argentina's most impactful player, and yet he only started two games. The striker took home the tournament's Golden Boot for his strong performances throughout the group stage and in the final.

1. James Rodriguez (Colombia)

James Rodriguez was the best player at Copa America 2024. / BSR Agency/GettyImages

Despite coming up short in the final, James Rodriguez was still the best player at Copa America 2024. The Colombian recorded six assists, the most of any player in the tournament since 2011, and even added a goal to his impressive run this summer.

It goes without saying that Colombia would not have made it to the Copa America 2024 final without their captain. The former Real Madrid man delivered the best set pieces in the competition, and rightfully earned the Copa America Best Player Award.