The Copa America 2024 has reached its penultimate stage where the defending champions and the most successful team, Argentina will face one-time champion Colombia in the final in Florida on July 15th. The FIFA World Cup winners, Argentina will be looking to clinch their 16th title, while Colombia will eye on their second title, ending their 23-year wait.
Since its inaugural edition in 1916, there have been several legendary players from the American continent who have made their names as some of the highest goal scorers in Copa America. In the following listicle, we will have a look at the top 10 players to score most goals in Copa America.
Top Goal Scorers in Copa America
10. Jair da Rosa Pinto – 13 goals
Former Brazilian footballer Jair da Rosa Pinto is one of the top goal scorers in Copa America. He was one of the top footballers from Brazil in the decades of 1940s and 1950s. Pinto scored 13 goals in 18 games in his Copa America career. He finished as the top goal-scorer in the 1949 Copa America with nine goals, where Brazil were crowned champions for the third time.
9. Ademir de Menezes – 13 goals
Apart from Rosa Pinto, Ademir de Menezes is another name, who played a monumental role in Brazil’s title campaign in 1949. The former footballer is regarded as one of the best forwards to play for Brazil. Menezes has played in the 1945, 1946, 1949, and 1953 editions of Copa America, scoring 13 goals in 18 games.
8. Gabriel Batistuta – 13 goals
Argentina’s Gabriel Batistuta was one of the best strikers in football in the decade of 1990s. He has 13 goals to his name in Copa America. He was the top goal-scorer for Argentina with six goals in their title campaign in Copa America 1991, and also excelled with three goals in the next edition as Argentina successfully defended the title in 1993.
7. Lionel Messi – 14 goals
Lionel Messi is now the second highest goal-scorer for Argentina in Copa America. The star forward player has played seven editions of the tournament and was also a part of the team that won the title after 28 years in 2021. Messi has scored 14 goals in 38 matches in Copa America so far.
6. Paolo Guerrero – 14 goals
Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero has been the highest goal-scorer in the single edition of the Copa America three times in 2011, 2015 and 2019. One of the greatest footballers to play for Peru, Guerrero has scored 14 goals in 26 matches in Copa America.
5. Eduardo Vargas – 14 goals
Chilean forward Eduardo Vargas has scored 14 goals in 24 matches in Copa America. He played a monumental role in Chile’s back-to-back title campaigns in 2015 and 2016, finishing as a top goal-scorer in both seasons.
4. Teodoro Fernández – 15 goals
Teodoro Fernández was a former footballer from Peru who played a big role in their maiden Copa America title in 1939, scoring seven goals. Fernández has 15 goals to his name from 24 matches in Copa America.
3. Severino Varela – 15 goals
Former Uruguayan striker Severino Varela comes third in the list of players to score most goals in Copa America. Having played three seasons in 1937, 1939 and 1942, Varela has scored 15 goals in 15 matches in Copa America. He scored five goals in his last edition of Copa America and helped Uruguay win their eighth title that season.
2. Zizinho – 17 goals
Former Brazilian midfielder Zizinho is the second highest goal-scorer in Copa America history. He played six editions of Copa America with Brazil from 1942 to 1957 and was a part of the champion team in 1949. Zizinho has scored 17 goals from 34 matches in Copa America.
1. Norberto Méndez – 17 goals
The all-time highest goal-scorer in Copa America, former Argentine midfielder, Norberto Méndez has won three consecutive titles with Argentina from 1945 to 1947, where he was the top goal-scorer in 1945. Mendez has scored 17 goals in 33 matches in Copa America.