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#3 Pele - Copa America 1959 & World Cup 1970
Pele is one of the greatest players of all time, turning heads with his goalscoring prowess for club and country. The legendary striker won three FIFA World Cups with Brazil. In his maiden appearance at the tournament in 1958, he won the Silver Ball. He scored six goals, including a brace in the final against Sweden, at the age of just 17.
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Only a year later, he finished as the top scorer at the erstwhile South American Championship in 1959. He won the Best Player award as the Selecao finished as the runner-up. Pele never won the Copa America trophy in his career, though.
Just a year before hanging his boots in 1971, the player helped Brazil to their third FIFA World Cup triumph in 1970. That Brazil squad is considered one of the greatest ever in the history of the tournament. Jairzhinho was Brazil's top scorer with seven goals, including strikes in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
#2 Jose Nassazzi - Copa America 1923, 1935, and FIFA World Cup 1930
Uruguay were one of the superpowers in world football in the fledgling days of international football. They hosted and won the inaugural edition of the FIFA World Cup in 1930.
Jose Nassazzi was the best player in a highly successful Uruguay team during the 1920s and 1930s. The midfielder is often considered the country's best player ever.
His trophy collection includes Copa America titles (1923, 1924, 1926 and 1935), and the FIFA World Cup (1930). He also helped his team win gold medals at the 1924 and 1928 Summer Olympics.
El Gran Mariscal was awarded the player of the tournament in the Copa America 1923 and 1935. He won the Best player award in the inaugural edition of the FIFA World Cup in 1930 too.
#1 Lionel Messi - Copa America 2015, 2021 & World Cup 2014
Lionel Messi enjoyed a great year n 2021, as he was finally able to win an international trophy with Argentina. He was the top goalscorer (four goals) and assist-provider (five assists) in Copa America as Argentina defeated Brazil in the final.
Messi won the Best Player of the Tournament award, alongside Neymar. The Argentine is no stranger to individual accolades, and is one of the most decorated players in the game's history.
No player has won more player of the tournament awards in international tournaments than the PSG attacker. Messi won a record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or award this year, with his performances at Copa America 2021 playing a big role in Messi winning that.
