The tournament will be a good opportunity for players currently based in Latin America to impress the scouts and potentially earn themselves a move to Europe. With that in mind, it makes sense to point out players who aren't popular yet to the global audience.
I have assessed all 276 players who will be taking part in the Copa America 2015 in correlation with their abilities in Football Manager 2015. Knowing that it wouldn't really offer anything of value to list the already known star players like Messi, Vidal, Cavani, Neymar or Falcao... I've picked 40+1 talents likely to surprise scouts and pundits alike.
The list is in nation alphabetical order. At the end of it, you can watch a video simulation where FM 2015 predicts the outcome of the tournament.
40+1 unknown players to watch at Copa America 2015
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Angelo HenriquezAge: 21Nation: Chile Position: striker Current Ability: 123 Potential Ability: -8 |
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Owned by Man Utd since 2012, he has had 3 loan spells since then, with the last one being the most successful one at Dinamo Zagreb scoring 20 goals in 25 apps. He's included in our list of Football Manager 2015 wonderkids. | |
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Eugenio MenaAge: 26Nation: Chile Position: left back Current Ability: 134 Potential Ability: 140 |
| He was a starter at Santos for as long as he played there (2013-15), but he left the club due to unpaid wages and joined Cruzeiro in January. A solid full back with both defensive and offensive qualities. | |
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Charles AranguizAge: 26Nation: Chile Position: central midfielder Current Ability: 148 Potential Ability: 155 |
| He was named the MVP of the 214 Campeonato Gaucho as Internacional (his current club) won the tournament. He signed a contract extension til June 2018. A creative yet balanced midfielder who can play in the centre but also on the right wing. | |
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Felipe GutierrezAge: 24Nation: Chile Position: midfielder Current Ability: 140 Potential Ability: 154 |
| An indispensable player to FC Twente who is a versatile and balanced midfielder. Good technique and vision paired with great physical traits. | |
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Mati FernandezAge: 29Nation: Chile Position: attacking midfielder Current Ability: 136 Potential Ability: 145 |
| Not so unknown as he spent 3 successful years at Villarreal (2006-09), another 3 at Sporting CP (2009-12) and 3 more at Fiorentina (2012-15) where he's still playing. He missed the World Cup due to injury and looking to make a memorable return. Quite skilful and a model professional. | |
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Raul JimenezAge: 24Nation: Mexico Position: striker Current Ability: 138 Potential Ability: 147 |
| Atletico acquired him last summer spending around 11M. He has featured quite a few times in La Liga mostly coming off the bench though. He Mexico's best striker in this tournament and he'll surely be looking to make a good impression and possibly earn more playing time at Atletico next season. | |
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Javier GuemezAge: 23Nation: Mexico Position: central midfielder Current Ability: 124 Potential Ability: 144 |
| He has just signed for Club America after 2 solid seasons at Xolos Tijuana. A hard working midfielder with remarkable mental traits and a consistent performer. | |
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Jesus CoronaAge: 22Nation: Mexico Position: winger Current Ability: 122 Potential Ability: 142 |
| Acquired by FC Twente in 2013, he still hasn't managed to break into the first team as a starter, partly due to injuries. He's now fit and roaring to go. A fast, agile winger who is great at dribbling and moving without the ball. | |
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Marco FabianAge: 25Nation: Mexico Position: winger Current Ability: 140 Potential Ability: 143 |
| An already developed attacking midfielder who might be looking to take the big step to a European league. Skilful, pacey, a decisive finisher and passer; good all-around, he can be a real threat on the left wing. | |
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Adrian AldreteAge: 27Nation: Mexico Position: left back Current Ability: 132 Potential Ability: 137 |
| First team material for Santos Laguna (current club) and previously Club America. A hard working full back with balanced duties and consistency. | |
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Juan CazaresAge: 23Nation: Ecuador Position: attacking midfielder Current Ability: 128 Potential Ability: -8 |
| He won the best player award of U-20 Copa Libertadores 2012 while at River Plate. Banfield acquired his services at first on loan in 2013 and then with regular transfer a year later. A player gifted with impressive technique and great mental traits, quite fast too. Has the makings of a top class winger. | |
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Jonathan GonzalezAge: 20Nation: Ecuador Position: right winger Current Ability: 111 Potential Ability: -8 |
| This season saw him get more first team time at his club and has already earned 2 caps. A skillful team player with a bright future ahead. He's included in our list of FM 2015 wonderkids. | |
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Enner ValenciaAge: 25Nation: Ecuador Position: forward Current Ability: 149 Potential Ability: 155 |
| Joined West Ham last summer for a fee around 12M and became an integral part of the team at once. The "Superman" will be looking to continue his good form and help Ecuador go far in this tournament. A consistent performer, fast and agile with good dribbling skills and off the ball movement. | |
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Mario PineidaAge: 22Nation: Ecuador Position: right back Current Ability: 115 Potential Ability: 140 |
| Started his professional career at Independiente del Valle in 2010 and he's still there making his way into the first team. Exceptionally skilled with impressive mental traits, but lacking speed. He seems like a quality wing back with lots of room for improvement. | |
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Fidel MartinezAge: 25Nation: Ecuador Position: forward Current Ability: 129 Potential Ability: 139 |
| He has recently joined Pumas after a good campaign on loan at UdeG. Poacher, trequartista or false nine are among roles he can perform well as. | |
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Marcelo MorenoAge: 28Nation: Bolivia Position: striker Current Ability: 145 Potential Ability: 149 |
| The journeyman striker of Brazilian descend has changed 8 clubs already, having experience from European leagues (Shakhtar, Werder Bremen, Wigan) and Brazilian ones. Currently at China as of February 2015. A towering striker who's best role is a poacher. Great attributes for most key attributes a striker must have. | |
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Milton CascoAge: 27Nation: Argentina Position: full back Current Ability: 142 Potential Ability: 145 |
| Started his professional career at the age of 21 for Gimnasia La Plata where he stayed for 3 seasons before moving to Newell's in 2012. He has been heavily featured on both teams he played for. He can play at both flanks equally. Short but very athletic with great off the ball movement and mostly offensive qualities. | |
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Sergio RomeroAge: 28Nation: Argentina Position: goalkeeper Current Ability: 142 Potential Ability: 156 |
| He was an integral part of AZ before Sampdoria secured his services for a fee around 3.5M. He was a stater the first 2 seasons, but since 2013 he's not getting any first team time. A solid all-around goalkeeper who's expected to be Argentina's first choice in this tournament. | |
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Roberto PereyraAge: 24Nation: Argentina Position: attacking midfielder Current Ability: 144 Potential Ability: 164 |
| Product of River Plate's youth system, he earned his first caps in October 2014. Spent the season at Juventus on loan from Udinese, having a good campaign overall. Fast, agile, creative, technically skilful outlet with more potential to fulfill. | |
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Facundo RoncagliaAge: 28Nation: Argentina Position: defender Current Ability: 135 Potential Ability: 148 |
| Joined Fiorentina in 2012 as a free agent and featured on the first team at once. Last season he moved to Genoa on loan where he was an integral part of the team in their run to finish 6th in Serie A. He's more of a right back with defensive focus. Strong with great mental traits. | |
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Lucas BigliaAge: 29Nation: Argentina Position: central midfielder Current Ability: 149 Potential Ability: 153 |
| He spent 7 years at Anderlecht before moving to Serie A for Lazio in 2013. His style is often compared with Fernando Redondo. A great player all-around, that might be looking to complete a move to a major club as his release clause is rather low for his calibre (6M). | |
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Fernando MusleraAge: 28Nation: Uruguay Position: goalkeeper Current Ability: 158 Potential Ability: 163 |
| After a 4-year spell at Lazio, he moved to Galatasaray in 2011 where he signed an extension til 2018 for 2.75M per season. Still he might be waiting for a move to a bigger club in a more reputable league. A brilliant goalkeeper with great reflexes. | |
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Jose Maria GimenezAge: 20Nation: Uruguay Position: central defender Current Ability: 143 Potential Ability: 168 |
| Atletico snatched from Danubio for 1M in 2013. He only appear in 1 La Liga match that season, but the last one he featured in 18 league games. Strong and hard working player, very good in the air with great positioning. On the downside, he's injury prone. He's included in our list of FM15 wonderkids. | |
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Jonathan RodriguezAge: 21Nation: Uruguay Position: striker Current Ability: 130 Potential Ability: 153 |
| He joined Benfica on loan from Penarol this season, but he didn't really play much. Fast and agile striker, ideal for a poacher role. Good off the ball movement, finishing and composure. He's included in our list of FM 2015 wonderkids. | |
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Giorgian De ArrascaetaAge: 21Nation: Uruguay Position: forward Current Ability: 122 Potential Ability: -8 |
| He joined Cruzeiro this year after impressing with Defensor Sporting. A player with exceptional technical skills for attacking who relishes the big games. Hopefully his lack of work rate and determination won't limit his development as he has more potential to fulfil. He's included in our list of FM15 wonderkids. | |
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Diego RolanAge: 22Nation: Uruguay Position: forward Current Ability: 125 Potential Ability: -8 |
| Another product of Defensor Sporting academy, he moved to Bordeaux in 2013. He's not getting first team time consistently, but he's still developing and could improve a lot. Poacher, trequartista, false nine, inside forward or just plain winger... you name it, he'll deliver. | |
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Derlis GonzalezAge: 20Nation: Paraguay Position: forward Current Ability: 124 Potential Ability: -8 |
| He has become an important first team player for FC Basel since joining in 2014. Good finisher that can get past his marker. Relatively fast and a hard worker. Appears on our list of Football Manager 2015 wonderkids. | |
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Nestor OrtigozaAge: 30Nation: Paraguay Position: midfielder Current Ability: 140 Potential Ability: 141 |
| A solid midfielder currently at San Lorenzo as a starter. A penalty specialist, enjoys big games, great mental traits as well as accurate passing. He's not fast, but that isn't a problem when deployed as deep lying playmaker or advanced playmaker. | |
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Victor CaceresAge: 30Nation: Paraguay Position: defensive midfielder Current Ability: 135 Potential Ability: 143 |
| Played at Libertad for 8 years before joining Flamengo in 2012. He'll be the 2nd captain of Paraguay in the tournament. The experienced midfielder has some great mental attributes to show as well as solid stats for all the key aspects of a DM. | |
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Rodolph AustinAge: 30Nation: Jamaica Position: defensive midfielder Current Ability: 121 Potential Ability: 135 |
| He was recently released from Leeds, so he's available as a free agent which should motivate him to impress in the tournament in search of a new club. A good player in general with a weakness in decisions and anticipation. | |
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Roberto FirminoAge: 23Nation: Brazil Position: forward Current Ability: 158 Potential Ability: 170 |
| Arrived at Hoffenheim in 2011 and broke into the first team on a regular basis a season later. His development over the last few years has been outstanding. A world-class versatile forward, particularly lethal when used in the wings. | |
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FredAge: 22Nation: Brazil Position: attacking midfielder Current Ability: 140 Potential Ability: 168 |
| He joined Shakhtar in 2013 in a deal worth 15M. Earned his first international caps a year later. A consistent performer with bags of ability and wicked dribbling. | |
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Everton RibeiroAge: 25Nation: Brazil Position: attacking midfielder Current Ability: 150 Potential Ability: 161 |
| He was linked to Man Utd, AC Milan and Monaco but in the end he joined Al-Ahli for a fee around 15M. Best used as a winger or an inside forward, the Brazilian might be having 2nd thoughts about joining a big European club instead. | |
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CasemiroAge: 23Nation: Brazil Position: central midfielder Current Ability: 138 Potential Ability: 154 |
| R. Madrid signed him in 2013 but only featured in 13 La Liga matches that season. He moved on loan to Porto where he had a remarkable campaign this season. Good all-around, strong and creative. | |
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Diego TardelliAge: 30Nation: Brazil Position: forward Current Ability: 147 Potential Ability: 152 |
| He has changed 9 clubs so far and he might be looking for his last shot at a reputable European league. Currently playing at China for Shandong Luneng. Best deployed as an inside forward, he's a very skillful player able to cause chaos to the opposition defense. | |
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Teofilo GutierrezAge: 30Nation: Colombia Position: striker Current Ability: 141 Potential Ability: 143 |
| The journeyman striker who is now at River Plate (since 2013) has 38 caps so far. Not particularly fast but possessing impressive key striker stats all-around. The trequartista role seems to be ideal. | |
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Luis MurielAge: 24Nation: Colombia Position: striker Current Ability: 137 Potential Ability: 156 |
| He's currently at Sampdoria who splashed 15M to acquire him from Udinese in 2015. His technique with the ball has led to comparisons to that of Brazilian legend Ronaldo. Quite fast, he's a good finisher and has a powerful long shot. | |
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Jeison MurilloAge: 23Nation: Colombia Position: central defender Current Ability: 137 Potential Ability: 155 |
| Inter recently acquired his services for a fee around 8M. A force to be reckoned in the air with great key defensive attributes and quite consistent. | |
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Carlos ZambranoAge: 25Nation: Peru Position: central defender Current Ability: 137 Potential Ability: 141 |
| Played in Germany for his entire professional career, currently at Frankfurt (since 2012). A rock in the centre of defence, known for his strong tackle and excellent defensive capabilities. | |
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Andre CarrilloAge: 24Nation: Peru Position: forward Current Ability: 135 Potential Ability: 150 |
| He became first team regular from his first season as Sporting CP in 2011. A player with great speed and off the ball movement, best utilized as a right winger. | |
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Tomas RinconAge: 27Nation: Venezuela Position: defensive midfielder Current Ability: 127 Potential Ability: 132 |
| After 5 years at HSV, he joined Genoa in 2014. He has a bunch of very impressive attributes (18/19) at marking, tackling, work rate, determination, bravery, aggression and stamina. He's also a very consistent performer who enjoys the big games. Best role would be ball winning midfielder. | |
Football Manager predicts Copa America 2015
DaveAzzopardi shows us how Football Manager 2015 predicts this summer's Copa America will end up!Dave's channel: bit.ly/DaveAzzopardi