The 2021 Copa America took place in Brazil between June 13th to July 10th, 2021. Ten South American national teams took part in the last edition, and Argentina was one of them; the Blues became Champions by defeating Brazil 1-0 in the competition final. Below is detailed information about the Argentine squad that played in Copa America.
Lionel Scaloni was the head coach in charge during the Copa America, and here are the players he selected:
Argentina’s Copa America Squad
Goalkeepers
Argentina went to Copa America with four goalkeepers; Agustin Marchesin (Porto), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Juan Musso (Udinese) Franco Armani (River Plate). The Aston Villa stopper was the first choice in the competition.
Defenders
Argentina went to the Copa America with defenders such as Nicolas Tagliafico, German Pezzella, Jose Luis Palomino, Nicolas Otamendi, Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina Lucero, Lucas Martinez Quarta, Lisandro Martinez, Juan Foyth, and Gonzalo Montiel.
- NICOLAS TAGLIAFICO
The Olympic Lyon defender has represented Argentina in the U-15, U-17, and U-20, and he was in the national team senior squad that traveled to Russia for the world cup. Nicolas Tagliafico was in the team for the 2021 Copa America, and Lionel Scaloni also named him in the squad that traveled to Qatar for the 2022 world cup.
- NICOLAS OTAMENDI
He is one of Argentina’s most reliable defenders and has been with the national team since 2009. Nicolas Otamendi has played for clubs like Porto, Valencia, and Manchester City, winning several trophies. He has represented Argentina in three world cups and four Copa America, winning the 2021 edition and world cup 2022 with the team.
- CRISTIAN ROMERO
Romero made his professional senior club career with Belgrano in 2016 and signed for Genoa in 2018. He signed for Juventus later on and was loaned back to Genoa; then, he signed for Atalanta. In 2021, Cristian Romero was nominated for the Serie A best defender award before he moved to Spurs on a loan deal.
He was in the U-20 squad that participated in the South American Championship and made his senior debut for the national team in 2021. He played in the squad that won the 2021 Copa America and FIFA world cup 2022.
- NAHUEL MOLINA LUCERO
Molina debuted for the Argentina senior national team in 2021 against Chile and was in the 2021 Copa America squad. Nahuel Molina scored his first senior international goal in the quarter-final match against the Netherlands in the 2022 FIFA world cup. He was in the first eleven in six games in the world cup, scoring one goal and making an assist as they won the tournament.
- LUCAS MARTINEZ QUARTA
Lucas Martinez Quarta played for Argentina’s senior national team for the first time on September 5th, 2019; it was in a friendly match against Chile. He was in the Copa America squad in 2021.
- LISANDRO MARTINEZ
Martinez was nicknamed ‘the butcher’ because of his fearless tackles; he currently plays for Manchester United. Lisandro Martinez started his career with Newell’s Old Boys and moved to Ajax in 2019, and he won two league titles with the club and the KNVB Cup. The butcher won Ajax player of the year in the 2021-2022 season.
Martinez has represented Argentina in the U-20 and U-23 levels, playing in the first team for the first time in 2019. He was in the 2021 Copa America squad and the squad that won the 2022 Finalissima and FIFA world cup.
- GONZALO MONTIEL
Gonzalo Montiel is a River Plate product; he made 139 appearances with the team and won trophies, such as Argentine Primera Division in 2021 and Copa Libertadores in 2018. He moved to Sevilla in 2011 in an $11 million deal. Montiel broke into Argentina’s senior team in 2019 and was in the 2021 Copa America winning squad, playing the final penalty that crowned Argentina as the world champion in Qatar.
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Midfielders
In the midfield region, Argentina was with Marcos Acuna, Joaquin Correa, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Mara, Nicolas Dominguez, Giovanni Lo Celso, Guido Rodriguez, Lucas Ocampos, Exequiel Palacios, Leandro Paredes.
- MARCOS ACUNA
Acuna plays for Sevilla but has also played for clubs like Sporting CP and Racing Club. Marcos Acuna represented Argentina’s senior national team for the first time on November 15, 2016, in a world cup qualifier match against fellow south American country, Colombia. Acuna was in the Copa America squad that won the competition in 2021 and the 2022 world cup squad too.
- JOAQUIN CORREA
Joaquin Correa plays for Inter Milan but has represented teams like Lazio, Sampdoria, and Sevilla. On June 9th, 2017, Joaquin Correa debuted his international senior team in a 1-0 win against Brazil. He scored the first goal in an Argentine shirt. Joaquin Correa was selected to go to Qatar but sustained an Injury days before the tournament.
- RODRIGO DE PAUL
De Pual is one of those players that take their jobs very seriously, and he makes sure the midfield is solid and also ensures Lionel Messi’s safety. Rodrigo De Paul currently plays for Atletico Marid, and he has played for teams like Udinese and Valencia. De Paul is a warrior, and he represented the Argentine national team for the first time in a 4-0 win against Iraq. He has become a regular starter since then.
De Paul assisted Di Maria in the goal that crowned Argentina the champion in the 2021 Copa America, and he was in the squad that won the 2022 world cup.
- ANGEL DI MARIA
Angel Di Maria has always been integral to Argentina’s success stories. He shows up at the most crucial time and has established himself as a country legend. Angel Di Maria currently plays for Juventus, and he has played for Real Madrid and PSG also. Di Maria has represented the team at the U-20 level, winning the FIFA world cup alongside Lionel Messi in 2007.
Angel Di Maria scored the only goal in the Copa America 2021 final, and he scored the second goal in the world cup final against France in the world cup.
- NICOLAS DOMINGUEZ
Nicolas Domingues currently plays for Bologna in Italy; the first time he represented the Argentine National team was in a friendly match against Chile on September 5th, 2019. He was in the 2021 Copa America squad.
- GIOVANI LO CELSO
Giovani Lo Celso has played for Real Madrid, Tottenham, and Real Betis and is currently in Villarreal. Lo Celso has represented Argentina at the U-23 level and made his senior international debut in a game against Russia. He was in the 2018 world cup squad and 2021 Copa America squad but missed the 2022 world cup due to an injury.
- GUIDO RODRIGUEZ
Guido Rodriguez made his debut for the Argentine senior team in a friendly match against Brazil which they won 1-0. He was in the 2019 Copa America squad and the 2021 edition, which they won. He also traveled with the team to Qatar for the world cup.
- LEANDRO PAREDES
Leandro Paredes made his senior national team in the 6-0 win against Singapore, and he scored his first goal in that match. Paredes was in the 2019 Copa America squad and the team that won the tournament in 2021. He followed Argentina to the 2022 world cup and scored in the penalty shootout in the quarter-final against the Netherlands and in the final against France.
Forwards
The Argentina national team is quite blessed in the attacking department, and in the 2021 Copa America, they were with Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Emiliano Buendia (Norwich City), Lucas Alario (Bayer Leverkusen), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Nicolas Gonzalez (Stuttgart), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Julian Alvarez (River Plate).
- LIONEL MESSI
Following various criticism from the media, and top football legends, Lionel Messi finally made a strong impact on the national team. Lionel Messi has captained Argentina to Copa America glory, Finalissima, and the 2022 world cup; he is the most capped player in the national team’s history and is the country’s highest goal scorer.
He was in the 2008 squad for the summer Olympics and represented Argentina in 2007, 2015, 2019, and 2021 Copa America. He has played in five world cups for Argentina, winning the 2022 edition.
- SERGIO AGUERO
Sergio Aguero was in Argentina’s U-20 team that won the youth championship in 2005, and he also represented Argentina in the 2007 U-20 world cup. He was in the summer Olympics squad, scoring twice against Brazil in the semi-final, and is the third-highest goal scorer in the national team’s history.
Aguero has represented Argentina in three world cups and five Copa America. He was in the victorious 2021 Copa America squad.
- ALEJANDRO GOMEZ
Gomez made his senior national debut in 2017 in a match against Singapore, scoring his first international goal. He was in the 2021 Copa America squad and won the world cup with Argentina in 2022.
- ANGEL CORREA
Angel Correa has represented Argentina at the U-20 level, captained the team to victory in the 2015 South American Championship, and was named player of the tournament. He has been a regular player in the senior team since then; he was in the 2021 Copa America squad and the 2022 FIFA world cup, winning both tournaments.
- NICOLAS GONZALEZ
He made his senior international debut in a 6-1 victory against Ecuador. He scored his first goal for the team in a world cup qualifier match against Paraguay and scored again against Peru some days after. Nicolas Gonzalez was in the 2021 Copa America squad, winning the tournament with the team.
- LAUTARO MARTINEZ
Lautaro Martinez has represented Argentina at the U-20 level, participating in the South American Championship and the U-20 FIFA world cup. Lautaro Martinez made his senior debut for the national team in 2018, earning a call-up for the 2019 Cop America; he was also in the 2021 squad for the same competition, winning it.
Lautaro Martinez was in the 2022 FIFA world cup squad, scoring the winning penalty shootout against the Netherlands.
- JULIAN ALVAREZ
Julian Alvarez has represented Argentina at the U-20 and U-23 levels, and on June 3rd, 2021, he made his senior debut for the first team in a world cup qualifier match against Chile. He scored his first goal in a 1-1 draw against Ecuador. Julian Alvarez was in the 2021 Copa America and World Cup 2022 teams. He scored four goals in the world cup, winning the Best young player award in the tournament.
Conclusion
Argentina squad that took part in the 2021 Copa America was one of the most talented and motivated in the history of the national team. They went on to win the 2021 Copa America and 2022 Finallisima and finally made history in the 2022 world cup.