We’re taking a closer look at some of the best players in this year’s Copa Sudamericana.
The Top Players of the Copa Sudamericana
The Copa Sudamericana is South America’s second most important continental club competition, behind only the Copa Libertadores. Launched in 2002, this year’s competition is the 22nd edition of all time. The group stage began in early April and the tournament is scheduled to conclude with the final in October, and as always, we’ve got you covered with the Copa Sudamericana odds you’re looking for.
Thirty-two teams from South America’s 10 footballing countries – Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay and Venezuela – are taking part in the group phase, during which each side will play six matches.
Later on, eight teams from the Libertadores will drop into the Copa Sudamericana. In this article we have picked out some of the top players taking part in the Sudamericana this year, from young talents to experienced stars.
Who Are the Best Players in the Copa Sudamericana?
1. Matias Arezo (Penarol)
One of the two most historic clubs in Uruguay, Penarol have won the Copa Libertadores five times. That makes them one of the most successful sides in South America’s foremost tournament, which they would no doubt prefer to be taking part in this season.
Penarol are unlikely to go far in the Sudamericana, but it is worth keeping an eye on Matias Arezo over the coming weeks. Born in Montevideo, the youngster left hometown club River Plate (not to be confused with the more famous Argentinian outfit of the same name) for Spanish side Granada in 2022.
Loaned out to Penarol earlier this year, Arezo is showing why he got the move to Europe in the first place. A clinical striker, he will cause rival defences plenty of problems in the Sudamericana.
At the time of writing, Arezo has scored 11 goals in 15 appearances for Penarol in all competitions. Opponents must be wary of giving him time and space in the penalty area.
2. Mateo Retegui (Tigre)
He might have been born in Argentina, but Mateo Retegui represents the Italy national team. He earned his first call-up earlier this year on account of his grandfather having emigrated to South America from Sicily.
Retegui wasted little time in making his mark on the international stage: the forward scored in both of his first two games for the senior side, against England and Malta. He looks set to be a prominent part of Roberto Mancini’s squad for the upcoming Nations League Finals.
At club level, Retegui is part of Tigre’s squad after joining the club on loan from Boca Juniors last year. His current side are not the biggest name in the Argentine game, but they are widely fancied to reach the knockout stage of the Sudamericana from Group D alongside Sao Paulo.
“He’s very young, he arrived in Italy suddenly and is therefore calm. He needs time but he has quality,” Mancini said in March.
3. Leo Ortiz (Red Bull Bragantino)
Red Bull Bragantino are a fascinating team to follow at the moment. A member of the Red Bull group’s football network, they are a disruptive force within the Brazilian game.
Given how much progress they have made up to now, it would not be a surprise if Bragantino went far in the Sudamericana.
Leo Ortiz will be crucial to their hopes of doing so. The solid centre-back has been at the club since 2019, having previously represented Internacional and Sport Recife. He has been linked with a move away from Red Bull Bragantino but looks set to at least see out the season at the Nabi Abi Chedid Stadium.
Ortiz is 27 years old, which might count against him in his hopes of moving to Europe. But his age actually suits Bragantino, who will rely on the Brazilian to keep things tight at the back throughout the campaign.
4. Marcos Leonardo (Santos)
The late, great Pele played for Santos for the majority of his career. They were the only Brazilian team whose shirt he ever wore. It would be fitting, then, if Pele’s former club had a successful season after O Rei passed away in December.
Santos have made a mixed start to their Sudamericana season, but they should still advance to the knockout phase. Marcos Leonardo, an exciting attacking player, will be a regular starter for Odair Hellmann’s men.
The 20-year-old has been on Santos’ books since 2014, and signed his first professional contract with them in 2019. He scored 21 goals in all competitions in 2022 and will be looking to improve on that tally this time around.
Another objective will be a call-up to the Brazil squad. Marcos Leonardo has notched 10 goals in eight games for the under-20 side. If he makes his mark in the Sudamericana, he would impress Brazil’s next manager.
5. Dario Benedetto (Boca Juniors)
Because Europe now dominates world football, the most talented players at the peak of their powers tend to end up on that side of the Atlantic. South American squads are therefore usually made up of several youngsters under the age of 21 and veterans in their 30s.
Dario Benedetto belongs to the latter group. Now 32 years of age, he returned to his home country of Argentina last year following spells with European sides Marseille (France) and Elche (Spain).
Benedetto, who won five caps for his country earlier in his career, scored 16 goals for Boca Juniors last term. He might be on the wrong side of 30 but he is still more than capable of putting the ball in the back of the net, both domestically and in the Copa Sudamericana.
A centre-forward who comes alive in the penalty area, Benedetto frequently rounds off Boca attacks. He should score plenty of goals in this tournament.
6. Oscar Cortes (Millonarios)
Although Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle triumphed in last year’s edition of the Sudamericana, this season’s winners are likely to be a Brazilian or Argentinian team. If not, though, perhaps Millonarios of Colombia could get their hands on the trophy.
Alberto Gamero’s side have made a blistering start to their continental campaign, taking seven points from a possible nine in a tricky group alongside Defensa y Justicia, America Mineiro and Penarol.
Oscar Cortes is the Millonarios player to keep an eye on. Still only 19 years old, the attack-minded midfielder looks to have a bright future ahead of him. He has played 13 games for Colombia’s under-20s and could easily represent his country at senior level.
Millonarios have won their domestic league on 15 occasions and they are now looking to triumph in the Sudamericana for the first time. Needless to say, Cortes will be key.
7. Federico Santander (Guarani)
After three rounds of fixtures, Group B of this year’s Sudamericana looks to be the most competitive. All four teams – Huracan, Danubio, Emelec and Guarani – are level on four points, making it hard to predict which two teams will go through to the next round.
Guarani will need Federico Santander to continue scoring goals if they are to take part in the knockout phase. The Paraguayan striker began his career at Guarani and secured an emotional return to his first club in January, joining on loan from Italian side Reggina.
The 31-year-old has already scored four goals in the Sudamericana – one in each of his three group stage outings, and another in the qualifying round. An experienced centre-forward, Santander’s goals are keeping Guarani’s hopes of progression alive.
The forward last won silverware with Copenhagen in the Danish league. He would dearly love to lift another trophy, this time with his boyhood club.
8. Arthur (America Mineiro)
The winter tournament was ultimately disappointing for Brazil. The pre-tournament favourites to triumph in Qatar, the Selecao were eliminated by Croatia in the quarter-finals. The head coach Tite departed, leaving Brazil looking for a new head coach.
Ramon Menezes is currently working as the country’s interim manager, and he handed a call-up to Arthur earlier this year. The right-back’s debut may have come in a friendly against Morocco, but the fact he was selected in the first place evidences the high hopes Brazil have for him.
At just 20 years old Arthur is already one of the first names on the America Mineiro team sheet. He will not be with the club for much longer, however: the youngster has agreed to join Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
Before he jets off for Germany, Arthur will strive to help America Mineiro in their quest to have a successful season in the Sudamericana.
9. Rodrigo Nestor (Sao Paulo)
Sao Paulo are one of the biggest clubs taking part in this season’s edition of the Sudamericana. Three-time Copa Libertadores winners and twice champions in the Intercontinental Cup, this is a club with a rich history in international competition.
Sao Paulo are among the favourites to go all the way this year. Dorival Junior, who replaced Rogerio Ceni as the club’s manager in April, has a gifted squad at his disposal.
One of those talents is Rodrigo Nestor, a 22-year-old midfielder who has been at Sao Paulo since before his teenage years.
Rodrigo Nestor has an eye for goal, but he contributes plenty more too. He is a good passer and plays with the sort of tactical intelligence usually associated with a much older, more experienced player.
10. Santiago Ascacibar (Estudiantes)
After a season with Estudiantes in 2016/17, Santiago Ascacibar was sold to German side Stuttgart. He moved on to Hertha Berlin in 2020 but more recently fell out of favour, leading to a loan switch to Cremonese in Italy.
That deal came to an end earlier this season, after which Estudiantes swooped in to bring Ascacibar back to La Plata. The diminutive defensive midfielder will be an important part of Eduardo Dominguez’s side, not least in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana.
An aggressive, tenacious player, Ascacibar is not afraid of making a tackle. He might be small but his challenges pack a punch, and he is useful in possession too.
“I really like his style of play. Ascacibar seems to me to be a great player. If he keeps improving he’ll end up being a very important player in European football and also for the Argentina national team,” Javier Mascherano once said.
