Nothing is more immortalising for a player than a great goal in a major international tournament.
Diego Maradona is revered internationally for the ‘Goal of the Century’ scored against England in 1986. The same can be said about Pele and his strike against Sweden in 1958. Or Marco van Basten’s volley in 1988. Or James Rodriguez’s stunner in 2014. Even Antonin Panenka’s penalty at Euro ’76.
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This summer, every player at Copa America will be looking for a similar moment when they can write their names in the history books forever. With that in mind, The Athletic has assessed what we feel are the 10 greatest goals scored in South America’s premier continental tournament, giving them a rating out of 20, divided equally into four criteria — individual element, team element, originality, and magnitude.
Have a look and then vote for which goal you think is best, and do comment below.
Now, over to Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Ronaldinho…
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Luis Diaz, Colombia vs Brazil, 2021
Individual brilliance: 5
An overhead kick is football’s most glamorous display of ingenuity. What unites Wayne Rooney’s goal in the Manchester derby, Gareth Bale’s stunner for Real Madrid in the 2018 Champions League final, and Luis Diaz’s effort against Brazil is that they’re making the best out of an imperfect cross.
Juan Cuadrado’s delivery from the right wing was slightly behind Diaz’s run, who was attacking the box from the left. Realising the ball would drop behind him, the Colombia attacker positioned himself slightly further ahead for an acrobatic effort with his right foot. It was brilliant and almost entirely individual.
Team element: 2
While Cuadrado’s cross was slightly behind Diaz’s run, it’s what an overhead kick needs. Had it been on the money, Diaz might have headed it and never been on this list.
Originality: 4
We’ve seen plenty of overhead kicks before. What we rarely see, however, is the Shaolin Soccer-esque backflip that Diaz delivered. It came complete with a one-move roll to get back on his feet, too, which would not have looked out of place in a WWE ring.
Magnitude: 2
This goal was the game’s opener, which is worth a point. It was also against Brazil, the tournament’s defending champions, which is worth another. Unfortunately, Colombia lost 2-1.
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Total: 13
GO DEEPER
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Lionel Messi, Argentina vs Mexico, 2007
Individual brilliance: 3
It feels wrong to give Messi anything less than five in this category, but this is not the genius we know today. This is a younger and less refined version, so we can be forgiven for asking: ‘Was this actually a tad fortunate?’
Team element: 3
The lead-up to this goal was effective but not beautiful. After receiving a pass from Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Zanetti whips a 30-yard pass into Carlos Tevez, who does well to bring it under his control. He then sets the ball up for Messi, who does the rest.
Originality: 2
The most unique feature of this goal is the position from which Messi takes his shot, catching the goalkeeper off guard with a looping effort from an acute angle near the corner of the 18-yard box.
Magnitude: 4
A goal in the semi-final is a big deal regardless of the result, but this helped Argentina to a 3-0 win, setting up a tie against old foes Brazil in the final. On this occasion, though, Messi loses out on full marks because it was not the winning goal, nor did Argentina win the tournament. Still, for his first senior international tournament as a consistent starter, it is rather impressive.
Total: 12
Read more on Copa America 2024
Humberto Suazo, Chile vs Brazil, 2007
Individual brilliance: 5
The biggest compliment you can give this goal is that it makes you think of Messi.
‘Tecatito’, as he is known in Mexico, picks up the ball on the left wing and dribbles inside and past his marker. As he advances towards the box, he weaves in and out between three Venezuela defenders to reach the penalty spot before taking a crucial touch out of his feet (and out of tackling distance from the defenders) followed by a powerful, low shot beyond Dani Hernandez in goal.
After falling to the ground, he pops up and screams out in relief with his team-mates in front of the Mexican crowd. To steal Corona beer’s tagline, this goal was ‘Miles Away From The Ordinary’.
Team element: 2
The goal was pure Tecatito magic, but the celebration was a team effort. For that reason, it escapes the bottom score.
Originality: 2
The problem with being Messi-like is that Messi has done it before. Whether it’s against Valencia in 2010, Eibar in 2017, or Athletic Bilbao in 2013 or 2015, Messi could make a compilation of these kinds of goals. That someone other than Messi produced this moment of magic is worth noting, but it is a goal you have seen before and will see again.
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Magnitude: 3
At 1-0 down in front of 67,319 fans at Houston’s NRG Stadium, Mexico needed a moment of magic with 10 minutes remaining. Corona’s goal put his side back on level terms, with the match finishing 1-1 — enough for Mexico to finish top of Group C. In the quarter-final, Chile hammered Mexico 7-0, and Corona was substituted in the 60th minute. It felt big, but led to one of the most embarrassing defeats in the nation’s history.
Total: 12
Sergio Aguero, Argentina vs Bolivia, 2011
Individual brilliance: 4
Having stepped back to create space from Gonzalo Higuain, Aguero was setting himself up for magic. With the ball coming down from his strike partner’s touch, Aguero bounced from the tip of his toes into a swivel, using the power generated in the slight jump to volley the ball as his body was on the way up. The finish, flying into the top corner of Carlos Erwin Arias’ goal, was outstanding.
Team element: 4
Aside from the excellent finish, it’s Higuain’s intelligence and understanding of Aguero’s tendencies that sets this goal apart. With space to his right, Higuain could have been selfish and knocked the floated ball down for himself to shoot. Instead, he assisted Aguero with a cushioned pass that opened up a goalscoring opportunity.
Originality: 3
A volley across the body is not the most unique or spectacular technique on the list, but Higuain’s chested assist takes it to another level. As does the goalkeeper, stationed a few yards from his line, who is helpless to prevent the shot from soaring into the top corner despite his attempt at a flying save.
Magnitude: 3
In the first game of a home tournament in Argentina, the pressure on the hosts is always going to be high. But after going 1-0 down to underdogs Bolivia, the pressure cooker was knocked up a few notches.
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For Aguero to deliver a world-class finish after Bolivia had effectively shut Messi and Argentina out of the game is an example of his big-game credentials. Argentina would go on to draw 1-1 and progress through the group stage before going out at the quarter-finals to Uruguay.
Total: 14
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Jhasmani Campos, Bolivia vs Chile, 2016
Individual brilliance: 5
Based on technique and aesthetics, this has a case for being the greatest free kick ever. With Bolivia chasing an equaliser against Chile, Campos was brought on from the bench to deliver a moment of magic from a set piece.
Thirty yards from the goal and at an awkward angle, Campos approached the free kick side-on before wrapping his left foot around the ball. With pace and spin, it curled around the wall and the far post before sharply swerving towards the top corner, leaving former Barcelona and Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo helpless.
Team element: 1
There’s nothing anyone else can do but stand and watch.
Originality: 4
There have been free kicks that have dipped like this and ones that have curled in a similar way, but the combination, as well as the distance, is what makes this goal special.
Magnitude: 2
While this drew his side back on level terms, Bolivia lost the match 2-1 in the 10th minute of stoppage time thanks to an Arturo Vidal penalty. It was one of two goals they scored all tournament as they finished bottom of their group with zero points.
Total: 12
Alex, Brazil vs Mexico, 1999
Individual brilliance: 4
Having received the ball 30 yards from goal, it was clear there was only one thing on Alex’s mind. The midfielder took a touch out of his feet to set it onto his left foot and delivered a thunderbolt towards the Mexico goal, which Jorge Campos got nowhere near. It is the purest, most unstoppable strike on the list.
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Team element: 2
Like Ronaldinho’s goal from the same tournament, an assist was recorded but it was almost entirely individual.
Originality: 2
Throughout his eight-year period at Fenerbahce, Alex made a name for himself for scoring these type of goals. Such a name, in fact, that he now has a statue at Yogurtcu Park in Istanbul.
Magnitude: 3
This turned out to be the winning goal in a Group B clash, with Mexico later pulling one back to finish 2-1. Brazil ran out comfortable group winners, collecting nine points from three games and later won the tournament, with Mexico finishing third.
Total: 11
Christian Cueva, Peru vs Ecuador, 2016
Individual brilliance: 5
Having received the ball facing away from goal, Cueva’s options on the edge of the box were limited. Paolo Guerrero was following the pass he played from the left wing, but the five Ecuador defenders in between prevented that passing option. Alejandro Hohberg was closer, but Cueva had other ideas.
The attacker received the ball on the half-turn, knocked it from his left foot to his right and nutmegged the defender in close pursuit, whose collapse to the floor is reminiscent of Jerome Boateng’s after Messi tangled him up in the 2015 Champions League semi-final. Cueva remained composed and slid his shot past Alexander Dominguez in the Ecuador net to put Peru up 1-0 inside five minutes.
Team element: 2
Guerrero gets the assist for this one, but it’s all Cueva’s magic.
Originality: 5
We have seen wingers attempt moves like this near a touchline, but rarely, if ever, is an attacker daring enough to do it on the edge of the box. It is vaguely similar to Yoann Gourcuff’s effort for Bordeaux against Paris Saint-Germain in 2009, but the way Cueva’s marker collapses to the ground with his legs tangled is what makes it.
Magnitude: 3
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After putting Peru ahead in the fifth minute, Edison Flores extended their lead eight minutes later. Ecuador pulled it back in the second half, with the game finishing 2-2 — but Peru would have the last laugh, finishing top of Group B.
Ecuador finished second ahead of Brazil, who crashed out of the tournament at the group stage for the first time since 1993. Peru and Ecuador went out at the quarter-final stage, losing to Colombia and the United States respectively.
Total: 15
My winners?
Cueva and Suazo.
Agree? Disagree? Vote on the poll and comment below…
(Top photos: Richard Rad and Pedro Vilela via Getty Images; design: John Bradford)