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Several Copa America winners have been from the Premier League since the early 2000s.
The Premier League has gone global since the early 1990s. However, when it comes to producing South American stars, it is still behind La Liga and the Italian Serie A. Such began to change in the 2000s when more and more foreign players from around the globe, including those from CONMEBOL countries, decided to ply their trade in the English top flight. Some of them then went on to become Copa America winners too. Here are the most notable Copa America winners in history who were competing in the Premier League.
Edu Gaspar (Copa America 2004)
The current Arsenal’s sporting director was probably the first Copa America winner from the Premier League. Back in 2004, Brazil under Carlos Alberto Perreira opted to call up the so-called ‘B team’ without Ronaldinho and the other 2002 FIFA World Cup stars. Edu was one of the midfielders who was cut due to his top form with the Gunners, helping them clinch the league title in the 2003–04 campaign. The former central midfielder made 30 appearances in the EPL, registering two goals and three assists.
He played in every game of the 2004 edition, despite not contributing a goal or an assist. Overall, the former Corinthians and Valencia man was only capped 16 times and never got a chance to play in the FIFA World Cup. After the tournament, he surprisingly did not get regular minutes on the pitch. Edu then moved to La Liga by joining Los Ches in 2005 before returning to his first club, Corinthians, four years later.
Julio Baptista (Copa America, 2007)
Arsenal once again contributed another Copa America winner. In the 2007 edition, their loanee from Real Madrid, Julio Baptista, was the key figure in Selecao’s success in clinching their eighth title in Venezuela. The former Sevilla man was fielded in five games, scoring three goals and providing one assist. One of his goals was in the final when Dunga’s men crushed Argentina 3-0.
His performance at Arsenal back then was just average. Baptista appeared in 24 Premier League matches but only managed to bag three goals and make three assists. Luckily, this did not impact Dunga’s decision to name him in the squad. His physical prowess fit the tactic deployed by the former Selecao’s skipper in the 1990s. The Sao Paulo-born forward was also included in the 2010 FIFA World Cup but only made one appearance in the tournament. Overall, he earned 47 caps and netted five times only in international fixtures.
Luis Suarez (Copa America 2011)
The veteran Uruguay international was a newly signed star in Liverpool during the Copa America 2011. He joined the Reds in the winter transfer window and instantly made an impact on Kenny Dalglish’s side by netting four times and setting up five goals in the Premier League. Suarez stayed in Anfield till 2014 after missing out on winning the Premier League in 2013/14 to sign for Barcelona, where he enjoyed trophy-laden years with Barcelona, including the treble winners in his first season.
In Argentina 2011, they were not the favourites as usual but managed to humiliate the host in the quarterfinal by beating them on penalties. The prolific goalscorer eventually registered four goals and two assists, including the ones in the final when La Celeste dismantled Paraguay 3-0.
After such success, he was still the mainstay in Oscar Tabarez’s side and helped them qualify for the 2014, 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup. Suarez is still called up for this year’s Copa America. The 37-year-old striker has made 138 appearances for La Celeste in all competitions.
Alexis Sanchez (Copa America 2015, 2016)
The 35-year-old winger was the protagonist in Chile’s success, winning Copa America back-to-back in 2015 and 2016. He was playing for Arsenal at the time and was the key figure in Arsene Wenger’s side. Sanchez played 52 times, scoring 25 goals and providing 12 assists in all competitions in 2015 and contributing 17 goals plus 10 assists in 2016. The former Barcelona and Udinese man also delivered the FA Cup in his EPL season debut. His top form boosted Arsenal tickets demand as their fans hoped for their return to their best days in the late 1990s and mid-2000s.
Sanchez’s contributions in both editions were not exactly impressive. He only bagged one goal and made one assist in 2015, whereas in the following edition under Juan Pizzi, the versatile forward did better with three goals and two assists.
Eduardo Vargas (Copa America 2015)
Alexis Sanchez’s duet with the Chile national team could not be ruled out. He was the top scorer in both editions when La Roja won the titles. Vargas bagged four goals and one assist in 2015 and registered six goals plus one assist in 2016.
However, the former Valencia and Napoli man did not have a memorable stint with QPR, which he joined on loan in 2014. He only played in 22 EPL games, scored three goals, and made two assists. Vargas eventually moved to Hoffenheim in the summer of 2015.
Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino, and Gabi Jesus (Copa America 2019)
These three top stars in the EPL were the key men when Selecao won Copa America 2019. All of them played in every Brazilian game in the competition. Firmino and Jesus were part of Tite’s front three. The former contributed two goals and three assists, while the latter registered two goals and two assists. Some of their goals and assists were set up in the semifinals and final.
Their form at the club level was remarkable too. They played for Liverpool and Manchester City, the two archrivals in the EPL, in the past few years. In 2019, Becker and Firmino won the Champions League, while Jesus clinched the league title.
Emiliano Martinez (Copa America 2021)
Last but not least, there is Dibu Martinez. He was Argentina’s hero in the last edition, beside Lionel Messi. The former Arsenal goalie was instrumental in the semifinal during the shootout win over Colombia and the final while beating the host Brazil. No wonder he won the Golden Glove Award too.
In 2021, the shot-stopper who is famous for his antics in the six-yard box was already with his current team, Aston Villa. He managed to keep clean sheets in 15 out of 38 games, which helped the Villans finish 11th under Dean Smith.
