The Copa America Centenario was a feast of football, with Chile ultimately beating out a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina in the final on penalties. While a missed penalty kick from the Barcelona maestro was the story of the tournament, there were plenty of goals on offer to whet our footballing appetites.
From stunning solo runs, unstopaable free-kicks to amazing team goals, the South American football extravaganza provided us with a whole host of memorable goals, with Eduardo Vargas of Chile topping the goal-scoring charts with 6 goals, followed by Lionel Messi on 5.
Here are the top 5 goals of Copa America 2016, in descending order:
5 Edson Puch – Chile (vs Mexico)
Chile were eventual winners, with their striker Eduardo Vargas topping the Copa America goal-scoring charts yet again. However, in a trend that is emblematic of their team ethos, Chile scored very few solo goals, with this fantastic counter-attacking team goal their best of the tournament.
It was a goal that capped off a stunning performance from the Chileans, as they blew Mexico away 7-0 in the quarterfinals. With the game won at 6-0 and heading into the final moments, you would forgive Chile for strolling about the pitch – however that is the anti-thesis of their footballing philosophy, as this goal showed.
Alexis Sanchez wins the ball in the Chilean half and powers up the pitch, shrugging off challenges like swatting away flies. However, Mexico get back and crowd him out – not a problem for Chile, with Vidal and Edson Puch bursting up the pitch in support. Sanchez squares for Vidal, who turns and plays through Puch as he charges into the box and lifts the ball over Ochoa to cap off the team performance of the tournament.
On a day where he scored his first international goal for Chile, Puch won’t be soon forgetting his second strike for La Roja anytime soon.
4 Jhasmani Campos – Bolivia (vs Chile)
The Copa America often provides the English-speaking, European football obsessed populace with a chance to find some ‘unknown’ footballing talents that they have never heard of. Although calling the most expensive Bolivian footballer of all time ‘unknown’ is a bit of a stretch.
Yet, when Jhasmani Campos stepped up to take the free-kick against Chile, with Bolivia trailing by a goal in the 61st minute, few would have foreseen what followed. The playmaker is known for his powerful strikes in his country and curled a stunning free-kick from 30 yards out that looked to be heading wide, before dipping and curling into the top corner at the last moment, leaving Claudio Bravo scratching his head in disbelief.
Sadly, Campos was denied his just rewards when Chile grabbed a controversial penalty winner in the final stages of the game, which confirmed Bolivia’s exit from the group stages, although Campos will return to Kazma SC in Kuwait with his head held high.
3 Lionel Messi – Argentina (vs USA)
A Copa America Centenario ‘best goals’ compilation isn’t complete without Lionel Messi on the list. For all of the eventual disappointment, and the subsequent hysteria following his retirement, Lionel Messi did light up the 2016 Copa America with some stunning goals, the pick of which was his final one.
With Argentina leading 1-0, Chris Wondowlowski felled the Argentine superstar about 25 yards from goal, much to Jurgen Klinsmann’s anger on the touchline. Messi stepped up, stole a few yards when he placed the ball, and bent an unstoppable free kick straight into the top corner, with Brad Guzan utterly beaten in the USA goal.
The goal had the added significance of being the one with which Lionel Messi broke the all-time goal-scoring record for Argentina, going past Gabriel Batistuta’s tally of 54 goals. With the Barcelona forward also announcing his retirement from the national team following the heart-breaking loss in the finals, this was his last goal in an Argentinian shirt.
What a beauty it was.
2 Jose Manuel ‘Sema’ Velazquez – Venezuela (vs Mexico)
That a defender is this high up in the Copa America best goals list is perhaps a quirk of South American football. It is doubly surprising because Velazuez isn’t considered a goal-scoring centre-back in any sense, this having been only his second ever goal for Venezuela.
The 25-year-old was drafted into this group game having missed the previous two, and justified Venezuelan coach Rafael Dudamel’s choice in the 10th minute. There seemed little danger when a free-kick was floated in, with Christian Santos’ header back across goal misdirected. However, Velazquez swiftly turned and adjusted his body; leapt into the air and performed an acrobatic scissor kick to power the ball home.
A goal that the best striker would be proud of, but that was the centre-back’s only goal of the tournament, with Venezuela crashing out to Argentina 4-1 in the quarterfinals. Yet, Sema Velazquez’ performances only enhanced his reputation, not in the least by this very goal.
1 Jesus Manuel Corona – Mexico (vs Venezuela)
Jesus Manuel Corona’s stunner against Venezuela was the goal of the tournament, for it was everything we have come to expect from the best of South American football, which is a bit ironic, since the midfielder hails from Mexico.
With El Tri a goal down and facing defeat with 10 minutes to go, up stepped the FC Porto midfielder to produce a stunning masterpiece of a goal that deserves repeated viewing. Corona picked up the ball deep in midfield, turned and began a mazing run towards goal, sidestepping about 5 defenders who congregated towards him and then unleashed a piledriver in the box that nestled in the bottom corner with the goalkeeper having no chance.
Sadly, that was the only goal that Corona scored throughout the tournament, as Mexico went out of the tournament in stunning fashion to eventual winners Chile, suffering a 7-0 defeat in the quarterfinals.
Yet, Corona will still leave USA with a wonderful memory of his solo goal, the best of Copa America Centenario.
