Top scorer in Copa America 2021 rankings: Messi’s perfect campaign, Neymar’s bitter ending

More than 4 years ago, on the hallowed turf of the Maracana in Brazil, the home of their fiercest rivals, Argentina finally shattered a 28-year trophy drought. By defeating Brazil 1-0 in the grand finale, the Albiceleste exorcised the demons of 4 consecutive major final losses in 2004, 2007, 2015, and 2016. 

Angel Di Maria became the hero in the 22nd minute, latching onto a sublime pass from Rodrigo De Paul to lob Ederson with clinical precision. While Brazil threw everything forward, including late surges from Neymar and Richarlison, they could not beat the inspired Emiliano Martinez. This victory marked Argentina's 15th Copa America title, their first since 1993, equaling the record for the most titles in the tournament's history at that time.

Argentina’s journey to the podium was a testament to their growing dominance. They topped Group A with wins over Uruguay (1-0), Paraguay (1-0), and Bolivia (4-1), only drawing with Chile. In the knockout stages, they dismantled Ecuador 3-0 in the quarter-finals and overcame Colombia in a dramatic penalty shootout in the semi-finals after a 1-1 draw. 

For Messi, after the heartbreak of the 2015 and 2016 finals, the 34-year-old (at the time) finally brought glory to his homeland. The 2021 edition saw a "perfect version" of Messi; he was not just a player, but a force of nature. He swept the individual awards, claiming both the "Best player" and "Golden boot" honors. 

However, as Spbolivescore highlights, Messi wasn't the only clinical finisher in Brazil. In fact, one rival matched his tally with a startling efficiency that challenged even the GOAT. Let’s dive into the top scorers in Copa America 2021 to reveal the names behind the numbers.

Top scorers in Copa America 2021

The race for the Golden Boot was a fierce battle between established legends and emerging stars. 

10. Ángel Romero

At number 10 is Ángel Romero of Paraguay. Playing 5 matches, the right winger netted 2 goals, accounting for 25% of his team's total scoring as they reached the quarter-finals. Romero has been a consistent figure for Paraguay, appearing in multiple Copa America editions, including 2019 and 2024. 

9. Yoshimar Yotún

Ninth place belongs to Yoshimar Yotún, the midfield engine for Peru. In 7 appearances, he scored 2 goals, helping Peru secure a 4th-place finish. Yotún is a legendary figure for Peru, holding the record for most appearances in the national team's history with over 120 caps.

8. Eduardo Vargas

Coming in at eighth is Eduardo Vargas of Chile. The veteran striker scored 2 goals in 5 matches during the 2021 tournament. Vargas is a Copa America specialist, having won the title in 2015 and 2016, where he was also the top scorer in both editions. He remains one of the highest scorers in the tournament's entire history. 

7. Papu Gómez

Seventh is Papu Gómez of Argentina. Despite playing only 2 matches, he scored 2 crucial goals, showing immense efficiency in Argentina’s championship run. 

6. André Carrillo

Sixth place is held by André Carrillo of Peru, who scored 2 goals in 6 matches. A key winger, Carrillo has been vital in Peru’s recent successes, including their 2019 final appearance.

5. Neymar

In fifth place, we find Neymar, who shared the "Best player" award with Messi. Neymar scored 2 goals and provided 3 assists in 6 matches, directly involving himself in nearly 42% of Brazil's goals. Despite the final loss, Neymar’s influence was undeniable. 

4. Lautaro Martínez

Fourth place goes to Lautaro Martínez of Argentina. The "Bull" scored 3 goals in 6 matches, proving to be the perfect strike partner for Messi and a vital component of the winning squad.

3. Luis Díaz

The podium begins at third with Luis Díaz of Colombia. Díaz was the revelation of the tournament, scoring 4 spectacular goals in just 5 matches. His incredible solo efforts helped Colombia reach the semi-finals and earn 3rd place. Díaz’s performance in 2021 remains his career highlight on the international stage. 

2. Gianluca Lapadula 

In second place is Gianluca Lapadula of Peru. The striker scored 4 goals in 7 matches, carrying the Peruvian attack in the absence of Paolo Guerrero. His contribution was massive, representing over 40% of Peru's goals in their 4th-place finish.

1. Lionel Messi

And, of course, at number 1 is Messi. His statistics at the tournament were nothing short of legendary. In 7 matches, he scored 4 goals and provided 5 assists, meaning he was directly involved in 9 of Argentina's 12 goals (75%). 

Beyond goals, Messi’s dominance was reflected in 9 staggering categories: most goals and assists (9), most assists (5), highest SGA (1.35), most free-kick goals (2), most through balls (9), most chances created (21), most passes into the final third (133), most shots (28), and most shots on target (11). This performance cemented his status as the greatest.

List of top 10 scorers in Copa America 2021:

Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 4 goals

Gianluca Lapadula (Peru) - 4 goals

Luis Díaz (Colombia) - 4 goals

Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) - 3 goals 

Neymar (Brazil) - 2 goals

André Carrillo (Peru) - 2 goals 

Papu Gómez (Argentina) - 2 goals

Eduardo Vargas (Chile) - 2 goals

Yoshimar Yotún (Peru) - 2 goals 

Ángel Romero (Paraguay) - 2 goals 

Through this retrospective, Spbolivescore.net has revisited the explosive performances of the top scorers in Copa America 2021. We once again congratulate Messi and his teammates on this prestigious title, which opened a glorious new era of success for him and the Argentinian national team.

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