'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2 Rodrigo Bentancur (Uruguay)
Remember him? The Juventus midfielder was the breakout start at the World Cup last year for La Celeste, manning the centre of the park with great vision and control, topped up with aplomb that belied his age.
Trending
He carried some of that form into the following season for the Bianconeris, and will now be the cynosure of Uruguay’s games at the Copa America, his maiden appearance in the tournament.
Calm and composed in possession, Bentancur more than makes up for his penchant for conservative passes with an excellent reading of the game and also providing a steely protective cover to the back four: just cast your mind back to that game against Portugal where he frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo to the hilt.
His compatibility and camaraderie with Matias Vecino in the midfield was a driving factor in Uruguay’s fluid brand of football and would be aiming to emulate the same here too.
