Manchester United outcast tops Copa America group stage player standings

Goalkeeper: David Ospina (Colombia) - 7.39 rating 

Colombia eased into the knockout stages of the Copa America as they won all three matches, the only team to do so. They didn’t concede in their three games, despite coming up against Argentina and Paraguay, of which David Ospina played two. The Napoli shotstopper earned a WhoScored rating of 7.39 from his two appearances as he made eight saves to keep Argentina and Qatar at bay. Having missed the 1-0 win over Paraguay, the hope is he is now fresh for their looming quarter-final clash with Chile. 

Right-back: Dani Alves (Brazil) - 7.75 rating 

Hosts Brazil have three players in the best XI of the group stages, with Dani Alves the first of the trio to make the grade. While without a club following his release from PSG, the 36-year-old exhibited his talents at the Copa America as he returned a WhoScored rating of 7.75. He pressed forward well as he completed five dribbles and made three key passes, while a goal in Brazil’s 5-0 thumping of Peru capped a solid group stage campaign for Alves. 

Centre-back: Jose Gimenez (Uruguay) - 7.55 rating 

It’s an all Uruguay centre-back partnership in the best XI, starting first with Jose Gimenez. Uruguay progressed from Group C as winners after earning seven points from a possible nine, during which they conceded just two goals. Gimenez netted in a man of the match display in their 2-2 draw with Japan and was on hand to make nine clearances, five tackles and four interceptions to help gain a WhoScored rating of 7.55. 

Centre-back: Diego Godin (Uruguay) - 7.43 rating 

Former Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin partners Gimenez at the heart of the defence as he too excelled in the group stages, earning a WhoScored rating of 7.43. His 13 aerial duels won was among the best returns from the three matches, while his winning possession in the defensive third 15 times was the second best. An additional eight clearances, five interceptions and four tackles saw him garner such a respectable rating. 

Left-back: Filipe Luis (Brazil) - 7.43 rating 

Rounding off the backline is Brazil left-back Filipe Luis. The experienced full-back may have failed to have a direct hand in any of the Selecao’s eight goals, but it wasn’t for want of trying as Luis made four key passes in his three outings and returned a 100% dribble success rate. He was defensively sound too for a Brazil side that didn’t concede as he made 12 tackles and interceptions combined to help return a WhoScored rating of 7.43. 

Right midfield: James Rodriguez (Colombia) - 7.79 rating 

The second Colombia player to make the cut, James Rodriguez was in fine form as head coach Carlos Queiroz guided Los Cafeteros to three wins from three. Rodriguez, a man in demand this summer, was central to their attacking efforts as no player made more key passes than the Real Madrid man (12), while only Charles Aranguiz (3) registered more assists (2). Rodriguez was also top for clear-cut chances created (5) as he landed a WhoScored rating of 7.79. 

Central midfield: Coutinho (Brazil) - 8.13 rating 

Rounding off the Brazil contingent is midfielder Coutinho, who took over the mantle of the Selecao’s star man in light of Neymar’s absence. The Barcelona man scored two and assisted one for Tite’s side as he, along with James Rodriguez, made 12 key passes. He ranked among the top five players for tackles (8) as he played a pivotal role in Brazil’s progression to the next round of the Copa America. 

Central midfield: Erick Pulgar (Chile) - 7.98 rating 

Featuring alongside Coutinho in the middle of the park is Chile’s impressive Erick Pulgar, who gained a WhoScored rating of 7.98. No player won possession in the midfield third more times than Pulgar (22) in the group stages as he started the campaign off with a fine man of the match performance against Japan. The Bologna star was second for aerial duels won (15), second for tackles (11) and third for interceptions (9) as his stock soared. 

Left midfield: Alexis Sanchez (Chile) - 8.25 rating 

Alexis Sanchez put a miserable season with Manchester United behind him as he excelled for Chile in the Copa America group stages. He had a direct hand in three of the six goals Chile netted to reach the quarter-finals of the competition, scoring two and assisting one, while his performance against Ecuador saw him land the WhoScored man of the match award. Sanchez ranked highly for key passes (8) and successful dribbles (8) with his good form in Chile’s three games returning a WhoScored rating of 8.25, that better than any other player in the Copa America group stages. 

Striker: Luis Suarez (Uruguay) - 7.78 rating 

Uruguay’s Copa America campaign began with a bang as they smashed Ecuador 4-0, which Luis Suarez excelled in as he scored one and assisted another to land the WhoScored man of the match award. The Barcelona forward ended the group stages with two goals and one assist to his name, with Suarez one of nine players to score more than one goal across the three matches and having had more shots (17) than any other player, the 32-year-old makes the best XI with a WhoScored rating of 7.78. 

Striker: Edinson Cavani (Uruguay) - 7.83 rating 

Partnering Suarez in attack is Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani, who mustered the second most shots (13) in the group stages. Like Suarez, Cavani also netted twice across Uruguay’s three games, including the key winner in the 1-0 win over Chile, a game in which the PSG forward was named man of the match. 2.7 aerial duels won contributed to a solid WhoScored rating of 7.83 to round off the best XI from the Copa America group stages.