The curtain rose on the 48th edition of the America Cup with the participation of footballers who have known how to leave a historical mark in the competition. In fact, one of the most attractive duels on the first date will undoubtedly be Peru vs Chile in Group A, which will have as its main protagonists Paolo Guerrero and Eduardo Vargasforwards who have forged a special love affair with scoring in the tournament.
Both attackers have known how to leave their signature on the most glorious pages of the Conmebol continental competition. It is not for less. When their teams needed them most, they showed up with their scoring quota to lend an important hand. And that is why their names appear in the table of top scorers of all time.
Both Guerrero and Vargas have registered a total of 14 scores in the Copa América and they share fifth place in this statistic. They are only surpassed by Teodoro Fernández from Peru (15 goals), Severino Varela from Uruguay (15), Zizinho from Brazil (17) and Norberto Méndez from Argentina (17).
However, it must be taken into account that all these footballers are no longer active, so the Peruvian and the Chilean – still in force – have a great opportunity to improve their numbers and reach the top of the table. The difference is very little between one and the other, so this edition of the tournament is presented with a very favorable outlook for both.
In fact, Paolo Guerrero also has a personal fight: he will seek to become Peru’s all-time top scorer in this special competition, since he still has is surpassed by the great ‘Lolo’ Fernández for just one goal. Eduardo Vargas, for his part, does not have any Chilean compatriot who surpasses him in this regard.
It is worth mentioning that the ‘Predator’ He has received the distinction of being the highest scorer in the Copa América on three occasions (2011, 2015 and 2019), while ‘Turboman’ received that award twice (2015 and 2016). Both will try to establish themselves again and will meet precisely at the debut of their teams this Friday, June 21.
Peru and Chili They will measure forces for the first date of Group A and that new chapter of the ‘Pacific classic’ It will feature its mentioned scorers as protagonists. Paolo Guerrero and Eduardo Vargas will meet again on the court, holding a separate duel that will capture the attention of the entire continent.
In the 21st century, there are no forwards with better records than Paolo Guerrero and Eduardo Vargas in the Copa América. Only Lionel Messi He surpasses both as the most influential in terms of goal contribution. Although the star of the Argentine national team has fewer goals than the Peruvian and the Chilean (13 goals), he has more assists than both: the ‘Flea’ He has contributed 17 assists, which rounds his statistic to 30 contributions.
Second place is occupied by ‘Predator’. With the Peruvian team, the historic attacker – already 40 years old – He has celebrated 14 goals and five assists (19) in the continental tournament. To close the podium, it is precisely ‘Turboman’ who registers 14 goals and three assists on goals (17).
This statistic could change in the development of the Copa América 2024. Peru and Chile are excited to reach the quarterfinals of the championship and to do so, the first duel between both teams will be key. It must be taken into account that the ‘bicolor’ and the ‘red’ They share a group with Argentina, so Guerrero and Vargas will also meet Messi in a special scorers’ duel.
