GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from an intriguing, and often chaotic, 2024 Copa America in the U.S.
So closes a much-anticipated, and equally unexpected, chapter in the story of American soccer. From the moment it was announced, the 2024 Copa America felt vital and substantial. Predating the 2026 World Cup by two years, the tournament seemed set to not only be an immense global spectacle but also the birth of something significant in the soccer culture of the United States.
And in many ways, it was the former. This wasn't one of great tournaments, but it wasn't a bad one, either – at least in terms of the actual competition. Games were packed full of intrigue and intensity. And although the predicted favorites went on to win the whole thing, there was certainly enough jeopardy about the final to suggest that it really could have gone either way.
In the end, Lionel Messi got his medal, James Rodriguez re-emerged … and yet to some, those moments were overshadowed by the multitude of off-the-pitch storylines and instances of organizational chaos. CONMEBOL have faced heavy criticism as organizers, while the USMNT itself had a tepid month, woefully underperforming on home soil.
GOAL US breaks down the winners & losers from the 2024 Copa America…
Getty ImagesWINNER: Lionel Messi
Looks like Messi just about got his proper farewell, after all. It almost went so wrong for the Argentina captain, who had a relatively poor tournament. He only found the net once, and spent most of his time living on the periphery. Sure, his contributions off the ball were vital, but this wasn't a footballer in his romp grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck.
Still, his team rose up around him. Messi has bailed out Argentina so many times. And in what might be his last act in a major tournament, his teammates did the same for him.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesLOSER: Vinicius Jr
This was supposed to be Vini's time. The winger had been electric for Real Madrid at the back end of the 2023-24 campaign, playing Los Blancos to a domestic-European double, and thrusting himself to the forefront of the Ballon d'Or conversation. Brazil, at the Copa America, seemed to be the logical next step.
Of course, it wasn't. Vinicius really only played well for one of the three games he appeared in, and after picking up a silly yellow card in the final group stage game, missed the quarterfinal (the Selecao lost on penalties.) He will have his moment in Canary yellow. It just wasn't meant to be this summer – and the Ballon d'Or might have slipped from his grasp as a result.
Getty ImagesWINNER: James Rodriguez
Did we all forget how good James is? Has he always been world class? Is this a late-career renaissance? Did he just have his best four weeks since 2014? Does any of that really matter?
Colombia wasn't that much of a surprise this tournament. Those who have watched could know that this is a very good team that hadn't lost in 20-plus games coming into the contest. What few could have called, though, is just how good James would be. The attacking midfielder provided six assists, won Player of the Tournament, and showed just how good he can be.
It has led to scattered rumors that he could get a European return. That seems unlikely. But, for now, it was a delight to see the renaissance of a talent that was always somehow untapped.
GettyLOSER: Gregg Berhalter
It seemed the end had been near for Berhalter for quite some time. There were serious questions coming into the tournament as to whether the oft-maligned manager was the right man for the USMNT job. A good performance here would have probably eased fears ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Instead, it went about as poorly as it possibly could have for the U.S. They were markedly poor in all three of their fixtures, went out in the group stage, and never really united the nation on home soil. Berhalter insisted in his final press conference that he could take the team to the World Cup. But it was clear that he needed to go. It's never pretty to see a manager sacked – especially one who clearly loves the job – but Berhalter was the inevitable casualty of a terrible tournament.