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Outside the ongoing EUROs, the Copa America 2024 is one of the anticipated tournaments in the world this summer. It will see Argentina make a bid to retain their crown after winning the tournament in 2021, where they beat Brazil 1-0 - keeping a clean sheet.
Sometimes, a clean sheet can be the difference between a trophy and a medal for second place. Essentially, a strong defense cannot be overstated, and defenders are crucial to potentially winning these important matches.
It's no surprise that these players will be at the heart of their team's plans to go far in the competition, as even a slight lapse in concentration could spell doom. Without further ado, let's rank five of the best defenders in Copa America 2024:
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Honorable mention: Piero Hincapie
He might not make it into top five, but Hincapie's potential contributions to Ecuador's defensive stability can hardly be ignored. The 22-year-old Bayer Leverkusen defender was vital in their domestic dominance, playing 26 Bundesliga games last season.
He has been a regular for La Tri since his debut in the last Copa America edition where he played every group stage match. He helped them get through to the quarter-finals as they drew 1-1 against finalists Brazil, and he will be hoping to drive them forward yet again.
#5 Alphonso Davies
With Canada set to partake in this edition of Copa America, they will be banking on Alphonso Davies, who has become a household name in world football. This is thanks to his presence at Bayern Munich, where he has risen through the ranks to become one of the best full-backs in the world.
His brilliance down the left flank cannot be overstated, with Davies able to bombard in attack and influence the game in the final third. In Germany, he has scored 11 goals and provided 31 assists in 195 games. The 23-year-old will be looking to take his club form into the Copa America and bail his country out where necessary.
#4 Ronald Araujo
There is hardly a better defender in Uruguay's national team than Ronald Araujo. The Barcelona center-back has been a reliable force for his club's backline, helping them concede just 25 goals in 25 La Liga games he appeared in last season. He joined up with La Celeste in 2020, and quickly became a consistent call-up.
Injuries have often kept him out of contention, and he has made only 16 caps for his country so far, but he will be looking to add to that in this year's Copa America. His ability to play out of the back will make him a handy player for Uruguay, and he will hope to help them succeed in what will be a difficult tournament.
#3 Gabriel Magalhaes
Gabriel's defensive quality has quickly become popularized with his solidity in Arsenal's backline. The 26-year-old center-back has shown his discipline and ruthlessness, helping the Gunners reach second place on the Premier League table twice in a row.
It was no surprise when he was called up in 2023 and made his debut for Brazil in the World Cup qualifiers. He followed this up with helping Arsenal concede only 26 goals in the 36 league games he played in last season. The defender will be looking for the opportunity to show his class for Selecao Canarinha in the upcoming Copa America.
#2 Cristian Romero
Cristian Romero gets on this list by virtue of his brilliance with the Argentina national team. He might struggle with Tottenham, where they conceded 37 goals in the 33 league games he played in. However, when it comes to international football for La Albiceleste, Romero is arguably one of the best.
He was a part of their Copa America win in 2021, helping them keep a clean sheet in the three games he partook in, including the final against Brazil. He played every match in the World Cup in 2022 and lifted the trophy with Argentina, and he will be called upon to build on his 31 caps in Copa America 2024.
#1 Marquinhos
There is hardly another player in Brazil's lineup like Marquinhos, who has the leadership and experience to lead them to yet another Copa America final. After making his debut in 2013, the 30-year-old Paris Saint-Germain defender soon became a rock in Selecao Canarinha's defense.
He has already played in four editions of Copa America, helping Brazil win in 2019 after playing every single game. He was also important in reaching the final against Argentina last time out, and Brazil will look to him for consistency and organization as they go again.
