The first goal of Copa America was scored by the Uruguayan footballer José Miguel Piendibene at the 1916 South American Football Championship (now known as Copa America).
The first-ever Copa America (earlier known as the South American Football Championship) was hosted by Argentina in 1916. Uruguay were the first-ever official champions of South America. Since then 46 editions have been played and Uruguay has the most Copa America titles. Uruguay have been the most successful team winning 15 titles followed by Argentina (14 titles).
Brazil won the 2019 Copa America by beating Peru 3-1 in the final at Rio de Janeiro. Dani Alves was named the best player of the tournament. The 47th edition was scheduled to be hosted in July 2020 but due to the COVID-19 crisis, it has been postponed to 2021. Argentina and Columbia are joint hosts of the tournament. The next edition of the tournament is scheduled to be hosted by Ecuador in 2024.
Top talents like Lionel Messi, Neymar, Diego Forlan, Carlos Tevez, Luis Suarez have impressed at recent tournaments, but none of them feature in our list of the 9 all-time top-scorers of Copa America.
So, without further ado, let's have a look at the list:-
1. Zizinho
Country - Brazil
Goals - 17 Goals
The Brazilian midfielder was an avid goalscorer and holds the record of joint-most goals in Copa America. The Flamingo legend scored a total of 17 goals in all Copa America competitions he took part in. The 1949 Copa America winner was also the Golden Ball winner in the 1950 World Cup, in which Brazil lost in the final. Zizinho is most widely remembered for his performance at the 1950 World Cup when Brazil lost to Uruguay in the final. He scored 30 goals in 53 games for the national team.
2. Norberto Doroteo Méndez
Country - Argentina
Goals - 17 Goals
The former Racing & Huracan legend, Norberto Méndez is the joint all-time highest scorer of the Copa America. He scored 17 goals in the competition and helped Argentina lift three consecutive Copa America titles (1945, 1946 & 1947). He won the Copa America Golden Boot in 1945 and Silver Boot in 1946 & 1947. He is also the 10th goal scorer for the Albicelestes. He scored 19 goals in 31 games for Argentina.
3. Severino Varela
Country - Uruguay
Goals - 15 Goals
Former Uruguayan striker, Severino Varela helped Uruguay win the Copa America in 1942. He is the joint third-highest scorer in Copa America history with 15 goals (5 goals 1937, 5 goals in 1939 and 5 in 1942). He played club football in Argentina and Uruguay. Varela played 24 games for Uruguay and scored 19 goals.
4. Teodoro Fernandez
Country - Peru
Goals - 15 Goals
Teodoro Fernández nicknamed "Lolo" is regarded as one of the best players ever to play for La Blanquirrojas. He is the joint third-highest scorer in Copa America history with 15 goals.
He was part of the Peruvian squad that went to the QFs of 1936 Berlin Olympics. He won the Copa America with Peru in 1939 by beating Uruguay 2-1 in the final, which was arguably the best team in the world at that time. He was the top scorer of the tournament with 7 goals and was also adjudged as the Player of the Tournament. He scored 24 goals for Peru in his national career and was the Golden Boot winner at the 1939 Copa America.
5. Gabriel Batistuta
Country - Argentina
Goals - 13 Goals
A familiar name in the list, Batistuta is regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation. Batigol has scored 13 goals in Copa America tournaments. He won back to back Copa America titles with Argentina in 1991 & 1993 and was also the Golden Boot winner in 1991. He was also the joint top scorer at the 1995 Copa America in which Argentina lost to Brazil in the QFs on penalties.
He was Argentina’s all-time record goalscorer with 54 goals in 77 games, a record he held until it was surpassed by Lionel Messi during 2016 Copa America.
6. Ademir de Menezes
Country - Brazil
Goals - 13 Goals
Former Vasco da Gama & SCR legend, Ademir is best known for his exploits in the 1950 World Cup. He was also the top scorer of the tournament. He won the 1949 Copa America with Brazil and was adjudged as the best player of the tournament.
He is the joint 5th highest scorer of Copa America with 13 goals. He scored 32 goals for the Selecao in 39 appearances.
7. Jairzinho
Country - Brazil
Goals - 13 Goals
Jair Ventura Filho is the joint 5th highest scorer of Copa America with 13 goals. He formed a formidable trio with Zizinho & Ademir in the 1950 World Cup & made it to the World Cup All-star team of 1950. The former Botafogo forward won the Copa America with Brazil in 1949 and was the top scorer of the tournament. He was a part of Brazil's 1970 World Cup-winning squad and also won the silver boot in the tournament.
8. Jose Manuel Moreno
Country - Argentina
Goals - 13 Goals
Moreno was part of Argentina's winning squads at the Copa America tournaments in 1941, 1942, and 1947. He scored the Copa America's goal number 500 against Ecuador: he scored five goals in that match, a Copa América record. That day, Argentina beat Ecuador 12-0, which is also the largest goal difference in a single Copa América match. He spent his entire career playing in Argentina, Mexico, Chile, and Columbia. He was the first footballer ever to win league titles in four different countries. He is the joint 5th highest scorer in Copa America with 13 goals. He was the top scorer of 1942 edition & was adjudged as the best player of the 1947 edition. José Manuel Moreno scored 19 goals for Argentina in 34 appearances.
9. Héctor Pedro Scarone
Country - Uruguay
Goals - 13 Goals
Héctor Scarone was part of Uruguay's squads that won 4 Copa America titles (1917, 1923, 1924, 1926), 2 Olympic Gold medals (1924, 1928) and a World Cup (1930). He is the most decorated player in this list. He is the joint 5th highest scorer in Copa America history.. He scored over 31 goals in 52 games for La Celeste. He spent most of his club career playing for Nacional. He also managed Real Madrid for one season (1951-52).
