The must watch players who could feature in CONMEBOL Copa América™

• Youngster Endrick is the current young sensation of Brazilian football
• Brazil begins its quest for a 10th title against Costa Rica on June 24 at SoFi Stadium

The country with the third most tournament titles on the continent behind Argentina and Uruguay, Brazil is one of the forces of the Americas with three titles won in the 21st century and arrives for the CONMEBOL Copa América United States 2024™ packed by another great generation of players.

These are some of the big names that football fans can follow during this edition:

 

Rodrygo

Osasco-born Rodrygo is only 23 years old, but he’s naturally taken on the mission of being one of the main strikers for the Brazilian national team. As a result of Santos’ great youth academy, he learned very early on the weight of the responsibility of being the main player up front, and the goals he’s scored have shown he’s taken that responsibility seriously.

Rodrygo once held the record as the youngest Brazilian player to score a goal in the CONMEBOL Libertadores. In 2018, at 17 years and 2 months, he surpassed the mark once held by the legendary Ronaldo Nazario. A year later, Real Madrid would be ready to open their cheque book to secure him a future at the Santiago Bernabéu.

In 2019, Rodrygo joined Brazil’s senior team after years with the youth teams, as he also gained first-team status in Spain with Madrid. He became the hero of Real’s historic victory over Manchester City in the Champions League semifinals in 2022. Months later, he would play in his first FIFA World Cup, in Qatar.

With more than 50 goals in more than 200 appearances for Real Madrid, and with considerable experience in the Brazilian national team, Rodrygo can impress again during this CONMEBOL Copa America™ with his speed, intense movement and keen nose for goal.

 

Endrick

The great sensation of Brazilian football is only 17 years old but has won five titles as a professional and is involved in of the biggest transfer in the history of Brazilian football. Real Madrid awaits, but in the meantime, Endrick is already the present of Palmeiras and the future of Brazil, where he has played for the senior national team with promising performances.

Touted as the great talent of the next generation from a very early age, the young striker has faced challenges from the highest levels with great mentality, not even his arrival in the pros has slowed down his pace. Endrick was a goalscorer at every youth level, and he has been preforming at the same high level against opponents who are sometimes twice his age: he scored 11 goals in the Brasileirao Serie A 2023, including a memorable performance in the comeback win against Botafogo, in Rio de Janeiro, which put ‘Verdao’ on the path to the title.

Coach Dorival Júnior’s Brazil are already starting to reap the rewards of their young star’s development earlier this year. The national prodigy scored against England and Spain in the first friendlies of 2024, setting the tone for a great year that, in addition to the possible participation in the CONMEBOL Copa América United States™, will also have his transfer to Real Madrid confirmed in July, when Endrick turns 18.

 

Vinícius Júnior

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Vinícius Júnior is the catalyst of a prosperous era that began for Flamengo in the last decade, becoming the youngest athlete to score a goal in the CONMEBOL Libertadores for the red-black club (in 2018). In the same year, he arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu to wear the colors of Real Madrid, just a short period after being promoted to the professional team.

The beginning was not easy and many doubted his success in football, but Vini forgot his critics, worked hard and reached the top: he conquered his space in Spain little by little, was called up by Brazil in 2019 and became a problem for opponents of all levels in Europe. He went from being a favorite to a Merengue idol for good in 2022, when he scored the only goal of the Champions League final against Liverpool.

Vinícius Júnior is the Brazilian striker by definition, with speed, intelligence, dribbling ability and is prolific finishing. He has already accumulated titles in his short career, but he still lacks one, the CONMEBOL Copa América™.

 

Photos: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF