Copa America Centenario awards, Best XI announced
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (Via Copa America) – The Copa America Centenario Technical Study Group announced the competition’s individual awards as well as the tournament’s Best XI following Chile’s 4-2 triumph on penalty kicks against Argentina after a 0-0 draw in Sunday’s tournament Final. The match was played in front of a sold out crowd of 82,026 at MetLife Stadium, setting a new soccer attendance record in the state of New Jersey.
With three goals and one assist, Chile’s Alexis Sánchez was awarded the MasterCard Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. The Chilean attacker put on impressive performances throughout the tournament, tallying two goals in La Roja’s 4-2 victory against Panama in Group Stage play as well as a goal and an assist in Chile’s 7-0 Quarterfinal victory against Mexico.
+Read: Chile tops Argentina in PKs to win Copa America Centenario
With six goals, Chile’s Eduardo Vargas won the Powerade Golden Boot Award for the second straight tournament. Vargas scored two goals in Chile’s 4-2 Group Stage victory against Panama and four more in La Roja’s 7-0 Quarterfinal win against Mexico. With 10 all-time Copa America goals, Vargas sits tied with Enrique Hormazábal as Chile’s overall scoring leader in the history of the competition.
Having made 13 saves over six matches, goalkeeper Claudio Bravo was awarded the Golden Glove for the second straight tournament. Bravo conceded five goals during the Group Stage, but kept three clean sheets during the Knockout Round. As Chile’s captain, the goalkeeper made one crucial save in the shootout of the championship match to help guide Chile to its second straight Copa America title.
Additionally, as the team that showed the best sporting spirit and fair play during the tournament, Argentina was granted the Fair Play Award.
The Technical Study Group also named the Tournament’s Best XI as follows:
Goalkeeper: Claudio Bravo (Chile)
Defenders: Mauricio Isla (Chile), Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina), Gary Medel (Chile), Jean Beausejour (Chile)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Argentina), Arturo Vidal (Chile), Charles Aránguiz (Chile)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Argentina), Eduardo Vargas (Chile), Alexis Sánchez (Chile)
