5 best performers from Copa America 2020 who will miss 2024 edition
Argentina will be looking to retain their crown in the 2024 edition of the Copa America after winning the previous one before attaining FIFA World Cup glory. It has been a remarkable run of form over the last half of a decade for La Albiceleste.
Securing this Copa America won't be an easy task. They will need to potentially get past other bigwigs like Brazil, who they beat in the final three years ago. However, Argentina will be without a few players who participated in that competition, and so will a number of teams.
Some countries are looking towards the future and have decided to bring younger players into their mix of talent and experience. Others have opted to let go of players who are no longer in good form while some players have retired altogether.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five players who performed in the previous edition of the Copa America, but will not represent their countries in the upcoming tournament:
#5 Sergio Aguero
Let's start with Sergio Aguero, who retired at the end of 2021 after a brilliant career that saw him score 41 goals for Argentina in 101 caps. He also took part in the Copa America 2020, where he provided an assist in two starts.
Two other appearances came from the bench, as he celebrated the win with La Albiceleste. Only six months later, though, he would retire due to a heart condition, aged 33.
#4 Fernando Muslera
Muslera has made an impressive 133 caps for Uruguay, conceding only 135 goals and keeping 54 clean sheets. He has played in five Copa America editions in his career, conceding just two goals in the 2020 tournament to lead them to the quarter-finals.
However, Muslera has now announced his retirement from international football, and Uruguay will have to make do without him.
#3 Diego Godin
The Uruguayan defender enjoyed a lengthy career with his country, making 161 caps in total, but getting just one red card. He played in six Copa America editions.
Interestingly, when Uruguay won the tournament in 2011, he played only two minutes. coming on as a substitute in the final. However, he went on to captain his country in the next four editions before retiring in 2023 at the age of 37.
#2 Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva has made an impressive 113 caps for his country but has found himself excluded from the Brazil national team in recent times.
The former Chelsea man notably captained them in their last Copa America run that saw Selecao Canarinha reach the final and lose to Argentina. However, the team has set their focus on youth, and the 39-year-old defender has understandably been left out.
#1 Casemiro
Much like Thiago Silva, Casemiro was a key part of Brazil's run to the final of the Copa America 2020 edition, starting and completing every knockout stage match. He had made 75 caps with Selecao Canarinha, and at 32, he was expected to be in their squad.
However, after a challenging season where he struggled at Manchester United, head coach Dorival Junior left him out of the squad.