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Copa America 2021 will be held in Brazil this year. After previous co-hosts Colombia and Argentina pulled out, the CONMEBOL had to scramble at the last minute to search for a host country for Copa America 2021.
With the venue being confirmed, our focus can now shift to football. South America has always been host to some extremely talented forwards. In this year's edition of Copa America as well, players like Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez will have the spotlight firmly on them.
While some of the midfielders set to take part in the Copa America 2021 might not be the most glamorous of names, they could certainly have a big say in the tournament.
Without further ado, let us take a look at:
Top 5 midfielders to watch out for in Copa America 2021:
#5 Rodrigo Bentancur - Uruguay
A key member of the Uruguay squad, Rodrigo Bentancur, along with fellow midfielders Lucas Torreira and Fede Valverde, add bite and quality to La Celeste in the middle of the park.
The Juventus midfielder might not have had the best of seasons for his club, but there is no doubting his quality. Strong in winning balls back and extremely capable on the ball, Rodrigo Bentancur will be key to Oscar Tabarez's plan for Uruguay in Copa America 2021.
Uruguay's midfield is extremely dogged and difficult to get past. Bentancur will have an important role to play as a deep lying midfielder for his country this summer.
#4 Rodrigo de Paul - Argentina
One of the best midfielders in Serie A at the moment, Rodrigo de Paul has had a stunning season for Udinese. Strong on the ball and capable of unlocking defenses with intelligent passing, De Paul was the talisman for a struggling Udinese side in 2020/21 scoring 9 goals and assisting 9 more.
While Argentina have always been blessed with talented forwards and wingers like Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria and others, they have not had a truly world class midfield conductor since the days of Fernando Redondo.
De Paul is not afraid to take on players and play brave passes. At 27, the Argentine midfielder is at the peak of his game and could be one of the star performers at Copa America 2021.
Also read: Ranking the top 5 Golden Boot contenders at Copa America 2021
#3 Federico Valverde - Uruguay
One of the brightest young midfielders in the game, Federico Valverde could be the standout midfielder for Uruguay in the Copa America 2021 tournament. The Real Madrid midfielder has put in vibrant performances whenever called upon and Uruguay will be counting on him to be at his best.
A versatile player capable of playing in multiple positions, Valverde's stamina, speed, energy and range of passing will be crucial if Uruguay are to progress far in Copa America 2021.
One of the most complete midfielders in world football at the moment, Valverde is tipped to play an integral role in Real Madrid's midfield in the coming years.
#2 Fabinho - Brazil
One of the best defensive midfielders in world football at the moment, Fabinho showcased his class with some important displays for Liverpool in the 2020/21 Premier League season.
Used sparingly by Tite previously, Fabinho could really come into his own in this edition of the Copa America as midfielders like Arthur and Fernandinho have been left out of the squad.
Also read: Copa America 2021: 5 biggest stars left out of Brazil's squad
A supreme ball winner, Fabinho's positioning and strength adds an extra dimension to Brazil's midfield. Having missed out on Brazil's 2019 Copa America triumph, Fabinho will be determined to make amends at Copa America 2021.
#1 Casemiro - Brazil
Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro is at #1 on our list. One of the most complete midfielders in world football at the moment, Casemiro has cemented his legacy by putting in consistently strong performances for Los Blancos.
One of the first names on the team sheet for manager Tite, Casemiro will be expected to control the flow of the game and snap into tackles in his customary fashion.
This season, Casemiro was at his imperious best for Real Madrid. Playing most of the matches as a defensive midfielder, Casemiro's ability to read play and pop up in the right place helped Real Madrid challenge Atletico Madrid right until the very end of La Liga.
A midfield duo of Casemiro and Fabinho could absolutely strangulate the opposition and guide Brazil to glory at Copa America 2021.
Also read: Euro 2020: 5 biggest stars dropped from the tournament
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