Copa America: Meet the 11 South American football stars who were unable to lift this trophy

South American football has produced the three greatest players to ever set foot on planet Earth.

Both Pele and Maradona were able to conquer the world. But not their own continent.

None of them were able to reign in South America, just like other great footballers who shone during their careers wearing the colours of their national team.

Yes, Lionel Messi did itwho led the Argentine team that won the 2021 Copa América.

It will be Argentina’s match against Canada that will kick off the Copa América, which begins this Thursday in the United States.

From the list of players who were left without the trophy, BBC Mundo chose an 11 that represents the variety of the continent.

1. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, “Pelé” – Brazil

AFP: Pelé can boast of having won almost everything in football, but not of having won a Copa América.

In 1959, Pelé played his only Copa América and Although he scored eight goals, he did not achieve victory.

This is despite having been champion in three World Cups.

2. Diego Armando Maradona – Argentina

Getty Images: Maradona also failed to win a South American title.

He competes with Pelé for the title of best player in the history of football, in the opinion of many, and he also does not have the Copa América.

In 1979 Argentina did not win any match and was eliminated in the first phase.

In 1987, they finished fourth. And in 1989, in their last participation, they lost to Brazil.

3. Jose Luis Chilavert – Paraguay

Getty Images: Chilavert is considered the best goalkeeper in the Paraguayan national team, but the trophy was always far from his hands.

The Paraguayan goalkeeper is one of the most iconic players in the history of his country, but he was able to do little in the three Copa Américas he played in, in 1991, 1993 and 1997.

4. Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama – Colombia

Getty Images: El Pibe amazed the world of football with his unique style and relationship with the ball.

El Pibe played without seeing his champion team five editions of the Copa América: 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1995.

And when Colombia, as host, won it in 2001, Pibe was not called up to the national team.

5. Ivan “Bam Bam” Zamorano – Chile

Getty Images: Zamorano was one of the great South American goalscorers of the 1990s.

“Bam Bam” Zamorano was unable to celebrate the four times he played in the Copa América (1987, 1991, 1993 and 1999).

But he came close to doing so by achieving the runner-up position in Argentina (1987) and third place (1991).

In Ecuador 1993 he did not make it past the first round and in 1999 he finished fourth.

6. Alvaro Recoba – Uruguay

Getty Images: Recoba had to live through one of the worst periods for Uruguay in the Celeste’s favourite tournament.

He participated in the 1997 and 2007 Copa América, being a protagonist in one of the worst periods of Uruguay in its favorite tournament.

In the first, at only 21 years old, he scored a goal against Venezuela, but could not avoid elimination in the first round.

A decade later he was part of the team that finished fourth, although he was unlucky in front of goal.

7. Alex Aguinaga – Ecuador

Getty Images: Aguinaga was one of the footballers with the most appearances in the history of the Copa América.

Juice a record eight times Copa América: 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2004.

And although Ecuador did not manage to win any of them, in the one it hosted in 1993, it achieved a respectable fourth place.

8. Marco “the Devil” Etcheverry – Bolivia

Getty Images: For many, Etcheverry has been the best player in the history of Bolivian football.

The midfielder has perhaps been the most outstanding footballer in Bolivian history.

With him, his selection managed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in United States.

According to the official Copa América website, “El Diablo” played in six tournaments and finished runner-up in 1997, when Bolivia was the host.

9. Claudio Pizarro – Peru

Getty Images: Pizarro has had a bittersweet relationship with the Peruvian national team.

“The Bomber of the Andes” played four tournaments between 1999 and 2015.

However, he was not very lucky in front of goal when scoring. only four goals despite his reputation as one of the great scorers in the German league.

10. Zico – Brazil

Getty Images: The Brazilian midfielder was never able to win a major title with Brazil.

Zico was one of the great Brazilian stars between the 70s and 80s.

Despite being considered as the eighth best footballer in history in the FIFA rankings, never won either the 1979 Copa América in which it participated, or the World Cups it played in 1978, 1982, 1986.

11. Socrates – Brazil

Getty Images: The “Doctor” of football shared a dressing room with Zico in a team that amazed with its football, but was unable to celebrate a title.

Socrates was in the Copa America in 1979 and in 1983, the year in which he was named by FIFA as South American player of the year.

However, his presence did not earn Brazil the title.

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