Top 8 Assisters in Copa America History as Lionel Messi Gives Huge Gap

• Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi stands as one of the finest talents to have graced the Copa America
• But how does the Argentine maestro and 2022 World Cup winner compare among the tournament's top assist providers?
• Sports Brief has taken a closer look at the history of the Copa America and has found the players with the most assists

Copa America is the longest-running international football tournament, organized by CONMEBOL, the governing body for South American football.

This competition showcases the continent's best teams and features a strong emphasis on attacking play, resulting in numerous goals.

Over the years, the tournament has seen intense competition, with powerhouses like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile claiming the title.

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The Copa America also highlights the talents of exceptional playmakers such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, and James Rodriguez, who deliver crucial assists to their teammates, enhancing the spectacle of the tournament.

As the Inter Miami star aims to boost his assist record this summer while Argentina defends its South American title, Sports Brief delves into Copa America's history to reveal the top 10 players with the most assists and determine Messi's current standing.

Copa America's top assisters

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 17 assists

Who else could it be? Messi not only tops the list of all-time assisters in Copa America but outshines the competition by a significant margin.

Currently, according to GOAL, the Argentine maestro averages an assist every 171 minutes in Copa America, and he's likely to enhance his record even further this summer. Sometimes, greatness simply demands recognition.

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2. Carlos Tevez (Argentina) – 6 assists

Despite reaching the final three times with Argentina, Tevez never won the Copa America, despite providing some great moments along the way.

He isn't the only well-known figure who has failed to win it.

3. Angel di Maria (Argentina) – 6 assists

The diminutive winger must be one of the most clutch players of all time when it comes to international football.

With goals in the Copa America and World Cup finals, Di Maria is frequently the man for big moments.

Along with scoring some major goals for Argentina, he's always ready to set up his teammates.

Per ESPN, Di Maria is set to retire from international duty after the tournament this summer, which might be his final outing.

4. Juan Arango (Venezuela) – 6 assists

Arango is the only Venezuelan to make the list, which is something to be proud of.

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He represented his country in six different tournaments and came close to winning it in 2011, when Venezuela reached the semi-finals.

5. Alexis Sanchez (Chile) – 6 assists

Alexis Sanchez has won some of the most prestigious club titles, but winning back-to-back Copa America finals remains his greatest triumph to date.

6. Charles Aranguiz (Chile) – 5 assists

The Chile international has featured in four Copa America competitions and has five assists.

Despite still playing football in Brazil, he has not been selected for Chile's squad this year and will not have the opportunity to add to his total.

7. Paolo Guerrero (Peru) – 5 assists

Guerrero, who is still playing today at the age of 40, will be one of the oldest players in this year's Copa America.

The Peruvian striker has an incredible record in this league. Along with five assists, he has won three Golden Boot trophies in 2011, 2015, and 2019.

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8. Neymar (Brazil) – 4 assists

It's unfortunate that Neymar will miss this year's Copa America due to injury. Interestingly, the last time he was absent from the tournament because of an injury, Brazil clinched the title in 2019.

In 2021, Neymar was instrumental in Brazil's journey to the final, contributing three assists, but they ultimately fell short against Argentina in the final match.

Copa America's top scorers

Earlier, Sports Brief examined the top scorers in the history of Copa America.

Since its inception in 1916, the Copa America tournament has showcased some of the most remarkable talents in the history of football.

Originally called the South American Football Championship until 1975, this prestigious competition has seen many legendary goalscorers.