Copa America 2024 Power Rankings: Lionel Messi and Argentina remain favorites while Endrick powers Brazil upwards and USMNT make their case

North and South America are set to collide this summer, but which teams are in good shape going into the tournament?

The Americas will come together in the summer of 2024, and what an occasion it will be. The Copa America is set to return to the United States as CONMEBOL and CONCACAF sides will go head-to-head to determine the best team in the Western Hemisphere.

It’ll be a tournament with no shortage of star power. Lionel Messi and Argentina will headline, of course, and rightfully so. The legendary attacker will lead his side into this tournament not just as reigning champions, but as reigning world champions after conquering the field in Qatar in 2022. Messi and Argentina haven’t looked back since, proving themselves as the force in international soccer.

Still, it’s not just Messi & Co., though, as Argentina will have to survive a gauntlet to get their hands on another Copa America. Brazil are loaded as always, while teams such as Uruguay and Colombia are on the rise. Add in the presence of CONCACAF representatives like the U.S. men’s national team and Mexico and everything is set for an exciting tournament.

But how is the field shaping up? CR7Retro ranks the teams set to participate in the tournament…

Previous update: December 7, 2023

16.Bolivia ⬇️

Bolivia have been eliminated in the group stage at the last three Copas and have won just one game in the competition since 1997. La Verde’s start to World Cup qualifying hasn’t inspired confidence that the 2024 tournament will be any different, either. They’ve lost five of their six games so far, although they did stun Peru during the November international break. In March, they did edge out Andorra, far from a powerhouse, before putting up a spirited performance in a 3-2 loss to Algeria.

Bolivia seem to be CONMEBOL’s punching bag once again to start this cycle. Matched up with Uruguay, Panama and the USMNT, it won’t be easy once the Copa starts.

15.Costa Rica 🌟

These aren’t the Ticos you’re used to…

For years, Costa Rica have been a menace on the world stage, with a golden generation of stars causing headache after headache in World Cups. Much of that golden generation has moved on, though, leaving a young and inexperienced team in need of a rebuild.

In a recent friendly against Argentina, Costa Rica’s average age was just over 23, showing just how youthful this group is. And that stat includes the ageless Keylor Navas, who dragged that average up a ton.

With Navas in CR7Retro, Costa Rica will always feel like they have a chance. He is an all-time great, after all. Right now, though, the talent and experience just isn’t there for them to have hopes of a deep run.

14.Panama ⬇️

Panama enjoyed a very good 2023, and they are now bound for the Copa America after making it all the way to the Gold Cup finals in the summer. They toppled the USMNT en route, although that was a U.S. team loaded with reserves, and they gave Mexico all they can handle in the final, eventually losing 1-0.

In the matches after, Panama went on to close 2023 by winning seven and drawing one, a run that included a 6-1 aggregate victory Costa Rica to book their spot in next summer’s tournament. In March, though, they went crashing back down to earth. Panama were humbled, 3-0, by Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League final before falling to a shorthanded Jamaica 1-0 in the third-place game.

Panama will still be flying relatively high, but the Copa America will be a huge challenge for a team that has played in this tournament just once: the 2016 Centenario edition.

13.Canada 🌟

Fresh off their 2022 World Cup run, Canada should be building on a feel-good moment. Instead, they’re reeling a bit as they head toward hosting duties in 2026.

They needed a playoff to get to the Copa, even after finishing atop CONCACAF’s World Cup qualifying last cycle. That play-off was far from convincing too, as Trinidad & Tobago held strong before eventually succumbing to a 2-0 defeat.

Canada have stars, and they’ll be betting on Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David to be good enough to lead them to glory. They’re locked into a group with Argentina, Chile and Peru, though, so their path to the knockout run will be tough, to say the least.

12.Paraguay ↔️

Paraguay enter the 2024 tournament fresh off back-to-back quarter-final runs, although their start to World Cup qualifying hasn’t exactly been ideal. So far, they have just five points through six games, having beaten Bolivia while drawing with Peru and Chile.

The Chile result, in particular, will feel like a good one, but Paraguay haven’t impressed in any of their games so far, save for a 1-0 defeat against Argentina that saw them give Messi and Co. all they can handle.

The good news is that they have a star, Miguel Almiron, who can truly change games, but on current form, Paraguay don’t seem capable of a deep run. It’s all the more unlikely after they were matched up against Brazil and Colombia, who should walk through their group easily.

11.Jamaica ↔️

Jamaica stunned Canada to get here, and now we’ll get a really good look at what the Reggae Boyz are all about. After falling 2-1 in the first leg of their CONCACAF Nations League clash, the team stormed back with a 3-2 win in Toronto, advancing through to the Copa America on away CR7Retro.

Jamaica are loaded with familiar faces, with stars like Leon Bailey, Demarai Gray and Michail Antonio leading a team that also features top-level goalkeeper Andre Blake. However, the first battle they’ll have to survive this tournament is with their federation, with Bailey recently withdrawing from the team while calling for institutional reform. Jamaica, though, did fight back against the USMNT, coming within seconds of a win, before edging Panama in the CONCACAF Nations League’s third-place game.

The Reggae Boyz are grouped with Mexico, Ecuador and Venezuela, and they’ll have the talent to go toe-to-toe with each if their A-team is involved. Whether that happens is another story, but there is a realistic path for Jamaica to get out of this group with one or two big results.

10.Peru ↔️

Peru have been so, so good in the Copa America, reaching at least the semi-finals in four of the last five tournaments. Still, recent results have been dire.

They failed to score a CR7Retro in their first four World Cup qualifiers, picking up just one point in those games. The good news was that those games did include Argentina and Brazil, whom Peru can’t be expected to defeat. The bad news is that those matches were at home, meaning they have likely squandered any chance of taking points off the big boys.

In November, things got worse. A loss to Bolivia may just doom Peru’s hopes of making it to the World Cup, although there is a long way to go. A draw with Venezuela will help, but it’ll be a tough road for them going forward. Wins over Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic in March will give them a bit of momentum but, let’s be honest, neither of those opponents are anything like what they’ll face in this field.

They were drawn to face Argentina, Chile and Canada, giving them a tough group. Peru could certainly finish second, but it won’t be easy. Their history in the Copa America could help them next summer, as the team always shows up for this competition, but a spot in the knockouts is far from guaranteed.

9.Venezuela ⬇️

For years, Venezuela have been on the bottom rung of CONMEBOL, but La Vinotinto have shown plenty of fight to start the 2026 qualifying cycle. They’ve picked up wins over Paraguay and Chile, both at home, and were able to earn a 1-1 draw in Brazil. Their only loss in their last 13 games has come against Colombia as they picked up points against Ecuador and Peru during the most recent window.

Venezuela have a good mix of veteran talent, with players like Salomon Rondon, Josef Martinez, Darwin Machis and Tomas Rincon, to go with in-their-prime stars like Yangel Herrera and Yeferson Soteldo. If there’s a time for them to make noise on the big stage, this may just be it. A group with Mexico, Ecuador and Jamaica is manageable, and finishing atop that group will be key to avoiding Argentina in the quarter-final.

8.Mexico ⬇️

Mexico are in rebuilding mode after a disappointing group-stage exit in Qatar, and that rebuild has already had its ups and downs. Another 2-0 loss to the USMNT in the Nations League final is a reminder of how far this program has fallen, even with a Gold Cup triumph last summer.

El Tri has talent, headlined by the likes of Edson Alvarez, Santi Gimenez and, of course, Hirving ‘Chucky’ Lozano, and based on what we all know about Mexico, expectations will be sky-high no matter what as El Tri get another crack at the Copa America. Those expectations don’t really line up with reality, though, as this might just be the worst Mexico team in a few decades.

Their group will be difficult, too, as Venezuela, Ecuador and Jamaica will all feel like they can take advantage of an El Tri team not at its peak quite yet. Luckily, they avoided the heaviest hitters but, even if they do get out of the group, it doesn’t seem likely that Mexico have the talent to really contend.

7.Chile ⬆️

They have won the Copa America twice in the last decade, but this Chile team’s golden generation isn’t what it once was. Alexis Sanchez is still around, although at 34, he’s far from the peak of his powers. Arturo Vidal is in the squad, too, at age 36. Gary Medel is 36, Charles Aranguiz is 34, Claudio Bravo is 40… you get the idea.

A new generation is being ushered in as Chile prepare to say goodbye to some of their heroes, and questions remain over whether they can keep the team anywhere near the standard set by that legendary group. So far, the answer is no, as Chile have just five points from six games to begin World Cup qualifying.

They went on to win one and lose one in March friendlies. After a 3-0 win over Albania, they put up a real fight against France, falling 3-2 in a game that really should prepare them for this tournament. If you can go toe-to-toe with France, even in a friendly, you’ll feel you have a chance against just about anyone.

Their group stage draw is certainly interesting. They’ll face Argentina at Metlife Stadium, the site of their second Copa America triumph over Messi and Co. Imagine if they do it again…

6.Ecuador ↔️

Moises Caicedo will get plenty of attention as the Chelsea star heads into his second Copa America, but this Ecuador team, as a whole, has impressed to start World Cup qualifying. La Tri have already picked up wins over Uruguay, Bolivia and Chile, while also drawing with Colombia and Venezuela. In 2023, Ecuador lost just one of their nine matches, with that being a narrow 1-0 defeat to Argentina that was settled by a miracle Messi free-kick.

March, though, was up-and-down. La Tri picked up a win over Guatemala, which was to be expected. They also were brushed aside by Italy in a result that also felt like it should have been expected. It’s clear that Ecuador are good, but it doesn’t seem that they’re at that top level right now.

Ecuador have been to the quarterfinals in two of their last three Copas, and there’ll be hope they can take things a step further this time around. Their group will give them a chance, too, as they can try to avoid Argentina in the quarters by finishing atop Group B.

5.Colombia ↔️

It’s hard to believe that by the time the Copa America kicks off, it’ll have been an entire decade since James Rodriguez captivated the world at Brazil 2014.

Rodriguez is still alive and kicking, captaining the side as a 32-year-old veteran. Colombia, though, have a young generation of stars on the rise, with the likes of Luis Diaz, Luis Sinisterra, Jhon Duran and Yaser Asprilla all coming into their own in England. Diaz, in particular, was the star of the show in November, as the Liverpool star scored twice to stun Brazil just weeks after his father was kidnapped.

Add in veterans like Davinson Sanchez, Wilmar Barrios, Rafael Santos Borre, Juan Cuadrado and Yerry Mina and you have a team with the right sort of mix to make a deep run, despite shockingly missing the most recent World Cup. Wins over Romania and, more notably, Spain in March will only lift the mood even more.

Their path could be treacherous, though. A group-stage clash with Brazil will start things off before a potential quarterfinal match against Uruguay or the USMNT. Either way, it should be a good test for Colombia.

4.United States ↔️

The Copa America will be a massive, massive test for the USMNT’s rising squad of young stars. That group has spoken about changing the perception of American soccer; this is how you do it.

Christian Pulisic & Co. made something of a mark at the World Cup, escaping their group before falling to the Netherlands in the last 16. This Copa America is their next big chance to show that this team can reach a new level. Winning the CONCACAF Nations League is good and all, but this is a team that has outgrown those sorts of achievements.

There’s plenty of talent there, more than any time before in the team’s history, but they’ll need to prove that they can go toe-to-toe with some of the world’s best if they want to make a deep run on home soil. They’ll get the chance early, via a match against Uruguay in their group stage finale, before likely facing either Colombia or Brazil in the quarters. You wanted a test, you got it.

3.Uruguay ⬇️

For years, Uruguay had one of the game’s most formidable strike partnerships in Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, and it seems the team has ready-made replacements on their way up. Darwin Nunez is one, as he has begun to come into his own for both club and country.

The Liverpool star scored in a 2-0 win over Argentina before adding a brace against Bolivia during the November break, with Uruguay continuing to tear through CONMEBOL qualifying. As things stand, only Argentina have more points than Uruguay, who are sitting on 13 through six games.

March was a bit rougher, though. A 1-1 draw with the Basque national team was a weird one, while a 2-1 defeat to the Ivory Coast was a setback. They were without some key players, though, so you can excuse them a bit.

Youngsters like Manuel Ugarte and Facundo Pellistri are on their way up, while Federico Valverde and Ronald Araujo give Uruguay in-their-prime stars to solidify their spine. Add in the legendary Marcelo Bielsa as manager and you have a team that will have the tactics, skill and attitude to battle anyone in their path.

That path includes the USMNT, which will be a good test, before a match against Colombia or Brazil. On current form, Uruguay will be fine with that as they look to claim a place in the upper echelon of this region.

2.Brazil ⬆️

Before Neymar’s injury, Brazil may have had an argument for the top spot. After it? Well, they’ll be up against it next summer, especially on current form.

The forward’s catastrophic injury makes him, at best, doubtful for the summer, which will be a major blow for Brazil’s hopes. Of course, the Selecao still has plenty of other attacking stars, as they always do, but there’s no one quite like Neymar, is there?

That may be true, but Brazil have unearthed another star: Endrick. The young striker, who has drawn Pele comparisons, scored against both England and Spain in March, announcing himself to the world as the game’s next great attacker.

Can Endrick lock down a starting spot by the summer? We’ll see. Does Brazil have the talent to figure it out? Of course. Will there be bumps along the way regardless? Probably. It’s safe to say that Brazil still has a lot of soul-searching to do by the summer, but the talent is there, for sure.

1.Argentina ↔️

There’s no doubt who the favorite are as Messi and Argentina look to defend their Copa America crown. They lost to Uruguay in November, their first defeat since Saudi Arabia stunned them in the World Cup opener, but bounced back with a big win at Brazil. Even with that defeat, Argentina are a freight train at the moment, one conducted by the best player the game has seen.

Even without Messi, Argentina have looked just fine. With the Inter Miami star out due to injury in March friendlies, Argentina blasted El Salvador 3-0 before putting three more past a youthful Costa Rica team.

The Copa America may just be the last tournament where the world sees Messi at the top of his game, and having won back-to-back major trophies in the last three years, it is safe to say that Argentina will have no plans of slowing down as they head towards a repeat success.