5 Key Players at Copa America 2015

A few years removed from a big money move to the French capital, Pastore has yet to truly hit his stride the way many would have expected. But this attacking midfielder with fantastic vision and a silky touch still has the potential to be Messi’s brilliant partner-in-crime if he so chooses. In fact – and I really, sincerely wish I could tell you I was making this up – Manchester United legend Eric Cantona was recently quoted as saying that Pastore is the current best player in the world. Apparently, this is the only footballer that Cantona would actually pay to watch play. Just soak all of that in for a second. Sure, an attacking midfielder completing 82% of his passes is very impressive, but can he live up to all of the praise?

Coming off an incredible first season with Swansea in which he proved himself worthy against even the biggest Premier League clubs, Montero will be using his balance and speed to terrorize defenses in Chile. Even though he managed seven assists in just 15 appearances for the Swans, he remains (at least in my opinion) the forgotten secret weapon of the Ecuadorians, who also boast such talents as Antonio and Enner Valencia. Look for Montero to run circles around opposing right backs all month.

Like Pastore, the little Brazilian is playing in the shadow of some very famous and popular compatriots. However, this should not prevent him from having a major impact this summer. Coutinho showcased his abilities in England this season en route to being nominated for Player of the Season. He quickly became known as a selfless, creative midfielder who is blessed with technical skill and a talent for scoring from outside of the 18-yard box. If Neymar and Hulk find themselves on the scoresheet this month, it will undoubtedly be a result of Coutinho’s hard work.

Am I the only person who remembers Vargas’ crucial goal against Spain at last summer’s World Cup? Unfortunately, he spent the past year on loan at QPR, so his game did not develop as it may have elsewhere. But three goals and two assists in just five starts shows why Napoli still believes in him. With the entire host nation supporting him, as well as fellow Chileans Alexis Sánchez and Arturo Vidal, I would not at all be surprised to see a refreshed and confident Eduardo Vargas walking away as the tournament’s leading goalscorer.

I hesitated to list Bacca’s current club as Sevilla, because he is being relentlessly pursued by the biggest clubs in world football, and he could very well have already moved somewhere else. This newfound popularity is a testament to the fantastic season he had in Spain; in the long history of Sevilla no player has ever hit 50 goals over two seasons until he did whilst leading his team to another Europa League title. To make a long story short, if James or Juan Cuadrado put the ball in front of Bacca, the net will be bulging almost every single time.