Copa America Player of the Tournament Rankings: Messi, Martinez Take Early Lead

• Lionel Messi is among the leading contenders for the 2024 Copa America Player of the Tournament award after a great start
• The Argentina captain has strong competition as teammate, Lautaro Martinez, and Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. are also in contention
• Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Colombia have all reached the quarter-finals of this year’s Copa America, starting on July 4

The 2024 Copa America has been lit up with top performances from super players, with the likes of Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez making headlines for Argentina.

Vinicius Junior, after a slow start to the tournament, has picked up his game and was Brazil’s star player in their last two group games, notching a brace in the process.

According to SPORTSTAR, it has been a dream tournament for Argentina’s Martinez, who currently leads the scoring charts in this year’s Copa America with four goals in three games.

Uruguay's World Cup squad 2022: Which players represented Uruguay in this World Cup?

Football

In Colombia’s camp, captain James Rodriguez has been pivotal in pulling the strings for his country in the competition so far, leading them to the quarter-finals as group winners ahead of Brazil.

Sports Brief, along with Planet Football, takes a look at the top players leading the race to be named the Player of the Tournament at the 2024 Copa America.

Top 10 contenders for Copa America POTT

10. Emiliano Martinez (Argentina)

9. Rafael Romo (Venezuela)

8. Moise Bombito (Canada)

7. Vinicius Junior (Brazil)

6. Lucas Paqueta (Brazil)

5. Darwin Nunez (Uruguay)

4. James Rodriguez (Colombia)

3. Federico Valverde (Uruguay)

2. Lautaro Martinez (Argentina)

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina).

Messi a doubt for quarter-final clash

Meanwhile, Messi is doubtful for Argentina's Copa America quarter-final tie against Ecuador as he has yet to fully recover from an injury he picked up in the group phase, BEIN Sports reports.

Messi, Di Maria and other most important Argentina players ahead of Copa America title defence

Football

The Inter Miami forward missed the world champions' final group-stage game against Peru due to injury, and his fitness is still a concern ahead of Thursday's quarter-final.

Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, has suggested that Messi could be rested again for the quarter-final if he fails to recover before kick-off of the next round of Copa America.

No extra time in Copa America

Sports Brief also reported that social media was set ablaze after news 'broke' that the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America would not have extra time in case of a tie in the knockout stages.

Quarter-final and semi-final games drawn after 90 minutes will head directly to penalties to decide the winner. Only the final will have extra time, with the possibility of a penalty shootout.