Ranking the top 5 Golden Boot contenders at Copa America 2021

#3 Luis Suarez | Uruguay

Atletico de Madrid Celebrate Winning La Liga

Uruguay have been blessed with some incredible forwards such as Cavani and Diego Forlan over the last decade or so, but Luis Suarez is a cut above the rest. The 34-year-old is arguably one of the greatest strikers of his generation and has scored goals wherever he's played. After being exiled from Barcelona, Suarez came back strong and spearheaded their rivals Atletico Madrid to the league title.

El Pistolero's displays in 2020-21 have proven he still has quality left to offer teams at the highest level, and is possibly one of the contenders for the Golden Boot. He scored six goals in ten appearances at the Copa America prior to the 2021 edition.

21 - @atletienglish have collected 21 points thanks to 21 goals scored by Luis Suárez 🇺🇾 in @LaLigaEN this season, more than any other player in the competition this term. Deciding#AtleticodeMadrid#Atleticopic.twitter.com/PJzSpfq8HJ

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) May 22, 2021

Suarez scored 21 goals in his 32 league games for Atleti, including the goal that effectively sealed the title. La Celeste's record goalscorer will hope to spearhead to their 16th Copa America title this summer.

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#2 Neymar Jr | Brazil

Peru v Brazil - South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022

Brazilian football's poster boy, Neymar Jr, is back in action for the Selecao and will be their biggest attacking threat at Copa America 2021. The 29-year-old is one of the best players in world football and, despite facing a few injury concerns, he's been brilliant when fit. He will look to put the turbulent campaign suffered by PSG as a whole and help his homeland win their tenth Copa America.

With 64 goals for the Selecao, Neymar is the second-highest scorer in Brazil history, only behind Pele (74). In the 2020-21 campaign, the forward scored 17 goals and set up a further 11, and delivered a string of eye-catching displays in Europe.

68 - Neymar is involved in a goal every 68 minutes in Ligue 1, the best rate alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic among all players decisive at least four times in the top-flight since Opta analyzes this data (2006/07). Extension. pic.twitter.com/FfmrgY3lvm

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 8, 2021

Neymar will most certainly be in contention for the Golden Boot award this summer. It is also important to note that he is Tite's preferred penalty-taker as well.

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#1 Lionel Messi | Argentina

Argentina v Ecuador - South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022

Argentina's majestic skipper, Lionel Messi, heads into Copa America 2021 as one of the favourites to win the Golden Boot. The 33-year-old has endured an underwhelming campaign with Barcelona but it's been yet another brilliant individual showing. With 30 league goals and nine assists, Messi won his record eighth Pichichi in 2020-21.

Only Vargas (12) has scored more goals in the Copa America than Messi's nine. The Argentina skipper and record scorer has had a miserable time in the competition, having lost three Copa America finals so far.

14 - Lionel Messi has either scored (18) or assisted (8) in each of his last 14 league games, the fourth time he has provided a goal involvement in 14+ consecutive LaLiga appearances after a run of 21 ending in 2013, a run of 18 ending in 2011 and a run of 16 ending in 2019. Tidy pic.twitter.com/3GQmQLuiLh

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 22, 2021

With the competition being hosted by Argentina, he would hope to make amends by leading his side to continental glory. He also has a wealth of attacking talent to play alongside, potentially forming a deadly partnership with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Lautaro Martinez.

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