# Who is the best player in Copa América since 1987?

> The modern Copa América era — from Brazil's 1989 triumph to Messi's crowning moments — has given us some of the greatest South American football ever played. Who defined this era?

*By YPB Team · Published May 22, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/who-is-the-best-player-in-copa-america-since-1987*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Lionel Messi**
   The modern Copa era's greatest player — won Golden Boot and Golden Ball in 2021 as Argentina finally ended their 28-year title drought, then retained the Copa in 2024 to cement his legacy.
2. **Romário**
   Brazil's lethal penalty-box predator was the Copa's most feared striker throughout the late 1980s and 1990s — quick, intelligent, and utterly clinical in the decisive moments.
3. **Gabriel Batistuta**
   Argentina's greatest Copa scorer of the modern era, leading his nation to victories in 1991 and 1993 with ruthless finishing and physical domination of opposing defences.
4. **Ronaldo R9**
   Unstoppable in Brazil's 1997 Copa win — his pace, power, and close control made him untouchable, delivering one of the most dazzling individual Copa America performances ever.
5. **Ronaldinho**
   Brazil's magician lit up multiple Copa editions with improvised skill, nutmegs, and trick goals — consistently the most entertaining player on any pitch, impossible to contain.
6. **Carlos Valderrama**
   Colombia's iconic playmaker orchestrated his nation's finest Copa period in the early 1990s with magical passing, vision, and the calm authority that made him South America's best No.10.
7. **Alexis Sánchez**
   Led Chile to back-to-back Copa títles in 2015 and 2016, with decisive performance in both finals — the defining player of Chile's greatest-ever era.
8. **Juan Román Riquelme**
   Argentina's mercurial number 10 was the Copa's most gifted playmaker of the 2000s, his languid, intelligent play and inch-perfect distribution making him unmatchable on his day.
9. **Neymar**
   Brazil's star won the 2019 Copa on home soil and has been consistently electrifying in the modern tournament, his individual brilliance making him impossible to prepare for.
10. **Arturo Vidal**
   Chile's combative midfielder was the engine of their 2015 and 2016 Copa triumphs, scoring crucial goals and bringing relentless intensity that elevated his whole team.
11. **Ángel Di María**
   Scored the decisive goal in the 2021 Copa final against Brazil, delivering the most important goal in Argentina's recent football history in a career-defining moment.
12. **Marcelo Salas**
   Chile's beloved striker terrorized Copa defences in the late 1990s and early 2000s with his sharp acrobatic finishing, becoming a symbol of Chilean football's growing ambitions.
13. **Lautaro Martínez**
   Argentina's physical and technical striker formed a devastating partnership with Messi during the 2021 and 2024 Copa victories, scoring crucial goals in both championship-winning campaigns.
14. **Diego Forlán**
   Uruguay's prolific striker was one of the Copa's most consistent modern scorers throughout the 2000s and 2010s, contributing decisive finishes across multiple campaigns for La Celeste.

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