Barcelona enjoy healthy representation in the best XI from this first round, with Luis Suarez also making the cut – but there is no room for Leo
Getty1Wuilker Farinez | Venezuela
It took 262 minutes for someone to finally put a goal past Wuilker Farinez at the Copa America, Leonel Justiniano firing home a late consolation for Bolivia in a game which nevertheless saw Venezuela qualify for the quarters.
Against both Peru and Brazil, the 21-year-old phenomenon was at the height of his game, pulling off a string of top-quality saves to secure two clean sheets and two valuable draws for his team.
Talk of a transfer to Barcelona has only intensified as a result and the Millonarios No. 1 will get a major chance to impress – and frustrate – Blaugrana skipper Lionel Messi in Friday's last-eight meeting with Argentina.
The in-form Farinez will likely relish the challenge.
Advertisement(C)Getty Images2Dani Alves | Brazil
Age is just a number, as Dani Alves is gleefully proving in this home Copa America for Brazil.
At 36, the marauding right-back is relishing the chance to shine for his country again after missing out on last year's World Cup through injury.
The Selecao skipper rounded off Saturday's 5-0 mauling of Peru by finishing a terrific team move that he had started, just reward for the constant outlet he has offered his team-mates throughout this tournament so far.
Getty3Jose Gimenez | Uruguay
A towering presence alongside Diego Godin at the back for Atletico Madrid, Jose Gimenez is once again proving just as reliable a partner at international level and, so far, looks even sharper than his captain.
The 24-year-old centre-half helped Uruguay back from the brink against Japan with a 66th-minute equaliser to secure a draw, which, thanks to results elsewhere, ensured the Celeste would make the knock-out stages.
Gimenez then put in a similarly accomplished display to keep Chile out and send the Celeste into the quarters as Group C winners.
Getty4Davinson Sanchez | Colombia
Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez is clearly on a roll, having played a big role in helping Spurs to their first-ever Champions League final in 2018-19.
The 23-year-old has now taken his fine form into the Copa America, proving equally impressive for his country, helping Colombia win their first two games by nullifying the Argentina attack and restricting Qatar to barely a shot on goal.
