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There is something very captivating about the manner in which South Americans play and master the sport of football. For them, football is more than just a sport, it is what they live and breathe. Brazil's native football style Ginga is a perfect example of how differently football is perceived by various cultures all over the globe. They play with an unquantifiable flair and look to spark life into games with moments of pure magic.
South American players have always had a major part to play in football right from time immemorial. Some of the biggest names to have ever played the game hail from South American countries such as Pele, Diego Maradonna, Ronaldo Nazario, and more recently, Lionel Messi.
Even though no country from this continent has won a World Cup in nearly 2 decades, there are a host of incredibly successful players from Brazil, Argentina, and more who have had an influence on European football. Here, we take a look at the best XI of South American players based on current form.
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Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker
There was really no doubt about who the best South American goalkeeper in the world is. Liverpool's magnificent Alisson Becker has stolen the show since his move to Anfield and has significantly raised goalkeeping standards in the Premier League as well as Europe.
The Brazilian had a superb 2018/19 season with the Reds and went on to win the Golden Glove in the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and the Copa America in the process. The former AS Roma man has continued to stake his claim to be the best in the world in his position with 8 clean sheets in 13 games this season, conceding just 5 goals in the process despite an injury on the opening day of the Premier League season.
A defending Champions League and Copa America winner who is all but set to lift the Premier League title with Liverpool come May, Alisson is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world at the moment.
Right-back: Dani Alves
There are hardly any trophies in club football that haven't been added to Dani Alves' prestigious trophy cabinet. The Brazilian full-back is one of the most decorated footballers in the history of the sport and has tasted success at every juncture at his illustrious career.
The former Barcelona defender played a crucial role in Pep Guardiola's Blaugrana side and went on to spend 8 long years at the Nou Camp from 2008 to 2016. He was part of two historic trebles in Catalunya before he departed for Turin on a free before joining his compatriots Neymar, Thiago Silva, and more in Paris.
Currently playing in his native country for Sao Paulo, Alves still remains the best South American right-back in the game. With 2 goals and 3 assists in 20 games in the Brazilian top-flight this season, the 36-year-old was named MVP at Copa America 2019 after captaining Brazil to the title.
Centre-back: Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva has been recognised as one of the best defenders in the European football for some time now and is on the brink of winning his seventh Ligue 1 title in 8 seasons with Paris Saint-Germain. He also has a host of other domestic trophies that help solidify his case as one of the best centre-halves of the generation.
Silva was at the heart of Brazil's defence as they steamrolled their way to the Copa America title in 2019, also being included in the Team of the Tournament alongside captain Dani Alves. His impressive performances at the World Cup 2018 in Russia also earned him a spot in the World Cup Dream Team. The 35-year-old was also named Ligue 1 Player of the Month in November.
With 11 clean sheets in 18 games this season, PSG's 8-point lead at the top of the table and a spot in the Round of 16 of the Champions League, Thiago Silva is on course for another successful season at the French capital.
Centre-back: Diego Godin
If Jose Maria Gimenez was fully fit to help guard Atletico Madrid's defence, his former teammate Diego Godin would perhaps be omitted from this list. But due to the former's recurring muscular injuries this season, the latter makes it despite a mixed start to life at San Siro.
After joining Antonio Conte's Inter Milan in the summer, Godin is still settling into his new surroundings but has already brought a sense of composure to the Italians' defence, given their lack of experienced figures in the squad. The Uruguayan has helped them keep 5 clean sheets in 9 games where he played the full 90 minutes, further reiterating his undeniable quality even at the age of 33.
With the Copa America just around the corner, Godin is set to lead Uruguay into the tournament as one of the most majestic defenders in the continent.
LB: Nicolas Tagliafico
After finding it difficult to find a consistently left full-back for a few years, Argentina's problems have seemingly been answered by Nicolas Tagliafico. The Ajax defender was part of the Amsterdam club's incredible run to the semi-final of the Champions League only to be eliminated by an electric Lucas Moura hat-trick.
The Argentine was even reportedly considered by Real Madrid to take over the mantle from an ageing Marcelo before untimately signing Olympique Lyon's Ferland Mendy.
Tagliafico is an attack-minded full-back who is an excellent crosser of the ball and provides the team with a reliable attacking outlet down the left flank. He has appeared 17 times for the Dutch champions this season with 3 goals and 2 assists to his name.
Defensive Midfield: Casemiro
Despite winning 4 Champions Leagues in 5 years with Real Madrid, Casemiro's contribution to the side is often overlooked. The Brazilian enforcer is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and this season, it is safe to say that he is the undisputed best in his position given his superb performances.
Casemiro averages nearly 4 tackles a game in La Liga and has provided a rock-solid base in midfield for Real's creative personnel to impose themselves on the pitch. His partnership with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric that powered 3 UCL wins in 3 years will go down as one of the best midfields ever to be fielded.
Playing with such illustrious midfielders, Casemiro's eye for a goal and passing range has grown significantly, making him more complete with each passing season. No wonder Zinedine Zidane called him a 'monster' after their victory in the Supercopa de Espana final.
Defensive Midfield: Fabinho
Fabinho's impact on Liverpool since moving from the French top-flight is hard to put into words. After finding it a bit difficult initally to feature regularly for the Reds, once he did have a consistent run of games in the side, there was looking back for either the club or the player.
The Brazilian has put in some warrior-like displays in the heart of Liverpool's midfield and is a major contributor to their defensive stability. Deployed just ahead of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip, Fabinho is a relentless tackler who wins the ball back with ease and spraying the ball across the pitch with ease. His aerial presence is massive as well, helping Jurgen Klopp's defence effectively deal with long balls.
Despite his injury this season, Fabinho's 12 games for Liverpool in the league have helped them in what could potentially be a historic season in the making. His thunderbolt of a strike against champions Manchester City is the icing on the cake to the Brazilian's fantastic season.
Left-wing: Neymar Jr.
Neymar's spell with French champions Paris Saint-Germain has been a difficult period to judge so far. Despite his astronomically high return of 45 goals and 29 assists in 45 Ligue 1 appearances, the club's failure on the European front has been strongly criticised. That, in turn, leads to criticism of the enigmatic Brazilian who has been blamed for not stepping up for the club and often being at the heart of controversial sagas.
This season, though, Neymar appears to have found a different gear both on and off the pitch. Attempting at every opportunity to mend a frosty relationship with the fans, the former Barcelona winger has netted 11 goals in 12 league games and set up a further 5 goals. His sublime form is certain to give PSG hope in the Champions League, with a number of his fellow attackers such as Kylian Mbappe, Mauro Icardi, and more in fine form.
This list would be incomplete without the flamboyant Neymar Jr. who is one of the best footballers in the world, let alone in South America.
Right-wing: Angel Di Maria
Former Real Madrid winger Angel Di Maria has had a fruitful spell with Paris Saint-Germain after a horrible season-long stay in Manchester. The Argentine has since reinvented himself at the French capital and is having quite the impressive season so far.
For context, Di Maria's most productive season in a PSG shirt saw a return of 10 goals and 18 assists in 29 league games for the Parisiens in 2015/16. This season, playing in a variety of positions on both flanks, he's scored 6 and set up 8 in just 17 games and could potentially go on to record his best ever season in the French top-flight.
He's been an important part of Thomas Tuchel's set-up this season and would be hoping to help hosts Argentina have a successful Copa America 2020.
Second striker: Lionel Messi
It would be hard to imagine saying anything about Barcelona's mercurial captain that hasn't been said before. Lionel Messi is simply the most phenomenal football player to grace the sport since the turn of the century and has won everything there is to win at club level including two historic trebles.
The Argentine has won a record 6 Ballon d'Ors and a Golden Ball at a World Cup, powering La Albiceleste all the way to the finals of the 2014 World Cup where Mario Gotze stole the show to give Germany the win. In the 2018/19 season, he won the European Golden Boot for his 36 goals in 34 league appearances during which he also registered 13 assists.
Despite beginning the current season with an injury, Messi has racked up 13 goals in as many starts in the league along with 6 assists. In the Champions League, he's scored 2 and set up a further 3 for the Blaugrana.
His spot on this list was never in doubt, as should be the case by all means. Lionel Messi is simply sensational and he would hope to power Argentina to a Copa America title in his home country this year.
Striker: Sergio Kun Agüero
Sergio Agüero is arguably one of the best centre-forwards in Europe at the moment. Despite his season being marred by injuries, Manchester City's record-breaking striker has been in unbelievable form so far, scoring 15 league goals with 3 assists in just 13 starts this season and 4 appearances off the bench.
The Argentine has been in the headlines lately after breaking Thierry Henry's long-standing record as the highest non-English goalscorer in Premier League history, as well as Alan Shearer's record for most Premier League hat-tricks. Both records were incidentally broken with a sublime hat-trick at Villa Park just under a week ago in a 6-1 win for the Cityzens. For Argentina, he's scored 41 in 97 appearances since September 2006.
Kun Agüero should undoubtedly be Argentina's first-choice centre-forward at the Copa America. He will go down in history as one of the finest ever No.9s produced by La Albiceleste and the South American continent.
On paper, the team would set up in this manner:
Bench
Ederson Moares - Goalkeeper, Manchester City
Jose Maria Gimenez - Centre-back, Atletico Madrid
Marquinhos - Centre-back/Defensive Midfielder, PSG
Fernandinho - Defensive Midfielder, Manchester City
Roberto Firmino - Centre-forward, Liverpool
Lautaro Martinez - Striker, Inter Milan
Paulo Dybala - Attacking Midfielder, Juventus
