COPA AMERICA: NEYMAR MAKES BEST TEAM

Paris Saint Germain (PSG) star Neymar has been named as part of the best team for the just concluded Copa America tournament hosted in Brazil. Neymar made the 2021 Copa America best team alongside ex-Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi and two of his Brazilian national team colleagues.

The 2021 Copa America tournament ended on Saturday night at the iconic Stadio Maracana in Rio de Janeiro with Argentina lifting the trophy on offer following their 1-0 win over hosts Brazil in the final. The first half striker from PSG teammate Angel Di Maria was enough to leave Neymar empty handed at the end of the tournament on home soil. Di Maria scored the only goal of the game in the first half off the fantastic assist from new Atletico Madrid signing Rodrigo de Paul.

Argentina had gone almost three decades without any form of tournament success until the Copa America tournament this summer. The last tournament success for the two-time world champions camein the same Copa America tournament at the 1993 edition (around 28 years ago).

Neymar was the star player for Brazil on the way to the final netting twice and providing three assists in five games but he was largely kept quiet by the Argentine defence led by Atalanta centre back Cristian Romero. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez also played his part for Argentina in between the sticks.

Four Argentina players namely Messi, De Paul, Romero and Martinez made the best team list with Neymar. Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro and PSG teammate Marquinhos are the two Brazilians on the list alongside Neymar. The other players who made the list include Chile right-back Mauricio Isla, Colombia attacker Luis Diaz, Ecuador defender Pervis Estupian and Peru midfielder Yoshimar Yotun.

With their latest Copa America triumph, Argentina now has the best joint record for the most titles in the history of the tournament alongside Uruguay. The two countries have won the tournament 15 times each.