5 most valuable players at Copa America 2021

Copa America 2021 is underway and the continental competition features some of the best footballers in the world. Footballing powerhouses like Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile could give any national side a run for their money. There's no doubting the fact that we'll be seeing some exciting football at Copa America 2021.

With the transfer window open, we're going to see player valuations being thrown around a lot. The transfer market value of a player is a good indication of how good a player he is. It is also dictated by his age, potential and the number of years he has remaining on his current contract with the club he is plying his trade for.

Copa America 2021 will feature some of the most valuable players in the world

Teams like Argentina and Brazil, among several others, are brimming with talent. They have players who are currently playing for some of the biggest clubs in the world. Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the most valuable players at Copa America 2021.

(All values courtesy: Transfermarkt)

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#5 Casemiro - €70 million (Brazil/Real Madrid)

Casemiro is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. He is widely known for his ability to break up play and recover possession for his side. The 29-year-old has also improved on the technical aspects of his game at Real Madrid and is one of Brazil's biggest assets at Copa America 2021.

While he provides cover for his defence and allows his attackers to play with freedom, Casemiro can also contribute greatly going forward. He possesses a powerful shot and is not shy of testing goalkeepers from range.

Casemiro is currently tied to Real Madrid until 2023. He has been crucial to their success in recent years and played a big role in all four of their Champions League triumphs in the past decade. It is no surprise that he is among the most valuable players at Copa America 2021.

#4 Marquinhos - €75 million (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain)

One of Brazil's first-choice centre-backs at Copa America 2021, Marquinhos has established himself as one of the best in the business in recent years. He is one of the most versatile defenders in the world and can play at right-back or even in defensive midfield as he often does for Paris Saint-Germain.

He also has a knack for scoring important goals for his team. He scored six goals for PSG across all competitions this past season. Marquinhos possesses great technical ability and is confident with the ball at his feet.

In addition to being a great defender who showcases great anticipation and game-reading ability, he is also an excellent distributor of the ball. Although he is not the tallest defender around, his incredible leap allows him to dominate aerial duels.

Marquinhos' current contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires in 2024. He is one of the most valuable players who will be strutting their stuff at Copa America 2021.

#3 Lautaro Martinez - €80 million (Argentina/Inter Milan)

Lautaro Martinez is coming off a brilliant season with Inter Milan. His striking partnership with Romelu Lukaku was central to the Nerazzurri's triumphant Serie A campaign. The 23-year-old scored 19 goals and provided 11 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions for Inter Milan in the 2020-21 season.

He has also become the first-choice striker for Argentina in recent times after displacing Sergio Aguero. Several European giants have registered an interest in the young striker, who is contracted to Inter Milan until 2023.

Martinez is one of the best talents to have emerged from Argentina in recent years. He is growing in status as a pacy and prolific goalscorer. His excellent technical ability also enables him to link up with his fellow attackers to great effect. Martinez is definitely one of the players to keep an eye out for at Copa America 2021.

#2 Lionel Messi - €80 million (Argentina/Barcelona)

One of the greatest footballers of all time, Lionel Messi, is now 33-years-old. But age is just a number and he has proved that to us over the course of the 2020-21 season. Messi finished the La Liga campaign as its leading goalscorer with 30 goals in 35 appearances.

Yet to win a major trophy with La Albiceleste, he will undoubtedly give it his all at Copa America 2021. Lionel Scaloni's men will also depend on the Barcelona man's creativity to go all the way at a tournament in which they've found very little joy over the past three decades.

Messi is reportedly set to extend his contract at Barcelona. If that's the case, he is likely to spend the rest of his playing career at the only club he has played for. It's just one of the many things that make Lionel Messi special in modern day football.

#1 Neymar Jr. - €100 million (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain)

Critics say that Neymar Jr. is wasting his years at the top playing for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 and that he should cop a move to a more competitive league. But the truth remains that Neymar has played a big role in transforming Paris Saint-Germain into a European powerhouse.

The Brazilian scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists for Paris Saint-Germain in 31 appearances across all competitions this past season. He was rewarded with a new contract and is now tied to the club until 2025.

He is inarguably one of the best attackers in the world right now. Watching an in-form Neymar play is an absolute joy. He is one of the best dribblers on the planet and has unreal technical ability. The 29-year-old is the most valuable player at Copa America 2021.