2011 Copa América: Ranking the 11 Best Players

Uruguay secured a record 15th Copa América after their 3-0 victory over Paraguay at the Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti.

It was a monumental moment for Diego Forlan who rose to the occasion and followed in his grandfather and father’s footsteps in lifting the Copa América.

Interestingly no Copa América champion has ever gone onto win the proceeding FIFA World Cup.

The closest was Brazil, which won the 1997 Copa América, but lost 3-0 to France in the 1998 FIFA World Cup final.

The 2011 Copa América started slowly but quickly sprung to life towards the latter stages and was one for the underdogs.

Let us go through the 11 best players in the tournament.

Do you think Forlan, Lionel Messi, Carlos Tévez, Dani Alves, Neymar and Ganso make the list? 

11. Marcelo Estigarribia

In 2006, Le Mans had Grafite on their books, a player who would later become a regular goal scorer in the Bundesliga. 

It would seem Le Mans have a gem in Marcelo Estigarribia, even though he’s hardly been a regular, and they’ve loaned him out to Newell's Old Boys. 

In a Paraguay side which was more blue collar than flair or skill, Estigarribia was one player who looked to produce a piercing cross or go on one of his incisive and tricky runs. 

Certainly against Brazil in the group stages, Estigarribia made Dani Alves look like a fool on many occasions—perhaps Alves was tired after playing 54 games for Barcelona. 

I was surprised Estigarribia didn’t start in the Copa América final. When he came on as a substitute, he immediately made Paraguay look more threatening. By then, it was too late.

10. Alexis Sánchez

Chile’s loss to Venezuela was so disappointing, but Alexis Sánchez’s performance during the Copa América wasn’t. 

He looked a class above the rest. While his strike partner Humberto Suazo remained anonymous throughout the majority of the tournament, Sánchez sparkled. 

He had terrific games against Mexico and Uruguay during the group stages. Even with the loss to Venezuela, Sánchez was the most dynamic player on the pitch. 

9. Paolo Guerrero

Did you know Paolo Guerrero scored the same amount of goals during the Copa América that he did for Hamburg this season?

Guerrero has had a checkered history at the Bundesliga club, ranging from poor attitude and disputes with managers to throwing a bottle at fans.

Yet this Copa América has been an elixir to an otherwise tumultuous season.

He led the Peruvian forward line to great effect. It was his goals that allowed unfancied Peru to third place—Peru’s best result since 1983. 

8. Álvaro Pereira

Álvaro Pereira is one of those players you want on your team because he is a team player first and an individual second. 

His tremendous work ethic, coupled by some important and timely goals, helped Uruguay prevail over a sluggish start to the tournament.

A fourth-place finish at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Europa League champion, Portuguese League champion, Portuguese Cup champion and now Copa América champion—it's been a good season for Pereira.   

7. Tomás Rincòn

Even though Lucas and Javier Mascherano were featured in the Copa América, Tomás Rincòn outshone both of them as the best defensive midfielder in the tournament.

Rincòn really stifled Ramires and Ganso when the Brazilians shockingly drew against Venezuela—it was a sign of things to come for the minnows.

Rincòn was the engine driving this fairy tale run. But his discipline cost his team in the end, as he was suspended for the semi-final against Paraguay.

6. Sebastián Coates

You know Sebastián Coates wouldn’t have started if not for Diego Godín’s injury. 

Coates certainly impressed standing in for Godín. Assuming he keeps up this standard of play, there is no doubt he’ll have a fruitful career. 

At just 20 years old, Coates was easily the best young player in the tournament and was awarded the Trophy Claro. 

Currently he’s a Nacional player, but I’d be surprised if he wasn’t playing in Europe come the next Copa América.

5. Fernando Muslera

Fernando Muslera’s late heroics against Argentina potentially inspired youngsters in Montevideo to switch from outfielders to goalkeepers. 

It’s the Copa América quarterfinals, with the game headed for extra time. Carlos Tévez drilled in a free kick, which took a deflection off Álvaro Pereira. Muslera was wrong-footed but made the save with his feet. 

The ball fell perfectly for Gonzalo Higuaín to pounce. 

But he didn’t score, as an outstretched Muslera somehow saved an inevitable winner. 

He capped off a memorable game with the defining penalty save against Tévez, who he had denied 30 or so minutes before. 

Aside from that spectacular game, he was solid. But, remarkably, he still wasn’t the tournament’s best goalkeeper. 

4. Oswaldo Vizcarrondo

The uncompromising Venezuelan centre back stood out with his rugged man marking and no nonsense defending. 

Against Brazil during the group stages, it was his fantastic goal line block that denied Robinho a certain goal. 

In the quarterfinal game against the heavily favoured and more-talented Chilean side, Vizcarrondo man-marked Humberto Suazo out of the game, while scoring a beautiful goal that turned out to be the winning goal. 

3. Diego Lugano

The gritty Uruguayan stalwart was resilient at the back and had an outstanding tournament. 

Aside from a momentarily lapse against Argentina, in which Gonzalo Higuaín punished him, Diego Lugano had a near faultless tournament. 

He was rightly awarded the tournament’s best defender award.

2. Justo Villar

As Paraguay struggled to find the back of the net, Justo Villar made save after save after save to ensure Paraguay had a chance to progress. 

Brazil clearly outclassed Paraguay in the quarterfinals, but it was Villar’s superb goalkeeping that allowed the game to head into penalties. 

There he saved Thiago Silva’s shot, who ironically was the only penalty taker who shot on target. 

Villar was awarded the best goalkeeping award. One believes he has enough quality to play in Europe, but for the foreseeable future he’ll be playing for Estudiantes in Argentina. 

1. Luis Suárez

Liverpool will be thankful Luis Suárez came through the tournament not only unscathed but also full of confidence.

There were some doubts over the legitimacy of his absurd goal-scoring rate in the Eredivisie. But his FIFA World Cup performance, his performances for Liverpool and now this wonderful performance in the Copa América have sealed his reputation as a world-class footballer.

Suárez was awarded the player of the tournament. Liverpool will be hoping he’ll be the league’s best player next season.

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