The 2024 Copa América in the United States will feature several world-class stars aiming to leave their mark with their national teams and aspire for eternal glory. Alongside the young prospects poised to lead their teams, this tournament will also be special for the veterans.
Specifically, for three players who, in this edition of the Copa América, could reach a scoring record that has stood since the 1950s, the era of Norberto Méndez (1945 to 1956) and Zizinho (1942 to 1957).
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Zizinho and Méndez, the all-time top scorers of the Copa América
These two legends are, to date, the footballers with the most goals in the history of the Copa América, each having scored 17 goals. Their performances have left an indelible mark on Argentine and Brazilian football.
Méndez, playing for Argentina, won the Copa América three times (1945, 1946, and 1947) and played a total of 17 matches, scoring 17 goals. This equates to one goal per match for this legend of South American football. Norberto Méndez debuted for the national team in 1945 and played his last match in 1956. He was the first footballer to reach this historic scoring mark in the Copa América.
Zizinho, on the other hand, equaled Norberto Méndez’s scoring record in 1957 after participating in his sixth Copa América with Brazil. His full name being Tomás Soares da Silva, the Brazilian played a total of 34 Copa América matches, scoring 17 goals and providing 16 assists. Unfortunately, he only managed to win one edition of this iconic tournament, the 1949 Copa América.
Who can break or match the record in the 2024 Copa América?
In the list of historical top scorers of the Copa América, several players have either passed away or retired. Therefore, the only players from the top scorers list who might reach the historic mark of Zizinho and Méndez are:
- Peruvian Paolo Guerrero, who has scored 14 goals in 25 games;
- Chilean Eduardo Vargas, author of 14 goals in 23 games;
- Argentine Lionel Messi, world football legend who has scored 13 goals in 34 games.*
*Figures prior to the start of the 2024 Copa América
Both Guerrero, Vargas and Messi have been called up to play in the Copa América with their respective teams and, while the Peruvian and the Chilean are only three goals away from equaling the mark of these legends, Lionel Messi must score a minimum of four goals to reach the top of the ranking.
To surpass their mark and reach 18 goals, Guerrero and Vargas must finish the tournament with a total of four goals. While Lionel Messi is five goals away from becoming the all-time top scorer in the Copa América.
Objetivo: Piso 18 🛗 pic.twitter.com/Curin8Syoa
— CONMEBOL Copa América™️ (@CopaAmerica) June 20, 2024
Will they achieve it? Only time will tell.
For his part, the only Brazilian who is still playing and who is close to these scoring figures is Neymar Jr., Al-Hilal star who will miss the tournament due to injury and who has scored a total of five goals in 12 games played in the America’s Cup. Therefore, no Brazilian would be in the race to equal this goal mark.
