Vinicius vying for the Ballon d'Or, USMNT on home soil... and Messi's potential farewell! Five reasons why you can't miss Copa America as tournament prepares for liftoff
- Argentina is set to face Chile in the tournament's opening fixture on Thursday
- This year's Copa America will be contested in a new and improved format
- READ MORE: Messi casts doubt over his chances of playing at 2026 World Cup
In just a few days' time Argentina and Chile will kick off one of the biggest soccer festivals of the summer when they collide at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
There is not long to go now until this year's Copa America gets underway, with the United States playing hosts across eight different states ranging all the way from West to East Coast.
Some of the world's top players are heading Stateside to represent their countries, including all-time Argentina great Lionel Messi - who is looking to retain the title after captaining his country to glory in 2021 - and Brazilian superstar Vinicius Jr.
So why should you tune in to the Copa America over the next month?
Dailymail.com takes a closer look at the five most fascinating talking points heading into this summer's tournament.
Copa America begins this week with Lionel Messi and Argentina set to defend their crown
Leo's last dance?
All good things must come to an end, and this summer may well mark the final chapter of Messi's glittering international career with Argentina.
After failing to win a trophy with his country for so many years, the Barcelona icon has now captained La Albiceleste to historic victories at his last two major tournaments; having lifted the World Cup in December 2022 after prevailing at the Copa America the year prior.
There is nothing left for Argentina's all-time leading scorer and appearance maker to achieve at international level. So could this tournament be the last dance?
With his 37th birthday to come next week, Messi faces an uphill battle to make it to the World Cup in 2026, a sad truth he appears to have accepted himself.
'There's a while left and I don't know how I'm going to be at that moment,' he recently said about his chances of playing at another major competition.
'Age is also a reality that is there, although it is a number, the games that I am going to play are not the same as the ones I played when I was in Europe in competition, which were every three days, or in the Champions League or in the League where I was, both in France and in Spain.
'But it depends on how I feel and how I feel when I'm next to my teammates and see if I'm still up to the task or not.'
Messi could well be gearing up for his final international tournament as an Argentina player
The soccer legend - who captained his country to World Cup glory in 2022 - turns 37 in a few days and faces an uphill battle to make the next World Cup in 2026
Messi will turn 39 in the summer of 2026, meaning the odds are stacked against him remaining an important member of Argentina's squad up until that point.
This tournament, then, will likely serve as a grand international farewell for a player many consider the greatest of all time. That alone is enough reason not to miss it.
USMNT on home soil
It promises to be a memorable summer for hosts USA, though whether that's out of pride or misery remains to be seen.
Eight years on from the last time they staged the competition, there is far greater expectation on the Stars and Stripes to enjoy another deep run after their fourth-place finish in 2016.
Gregg Berhalter has plenty of talent at his disposal with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson on the roster, though it is Pulisic who will undoubtedly prove key.
If the AC Milan forward can keep momentum going after an impressive season at club level - which saw him record 20 goal involvements in 36 Serie A games - then Berhalter's team will stand every chance of making it to the semifinals once more.
Christian Pulisic's form will be crucial to hosts USA going far at this summer's tournament
The USMNT roster is packed with talent, including young forward Gio Reyna (center)
Gregg Berhalter will be under serious pressure to keep his job if it ends in an early elimination
Toppling a giant like Brazil or Argentina will still be a tall order, despite their 1-1 friendly draw against the former last week.
Yet, if they can beat Uruguay to top spot in Group C and get the better of what will likely be Colombia, Paraguay or Costa Rica in the quarterfinals, while also playing an exciting attacking game throughout, USA can bring the curtain down on its second home tournament with plenty of optimism ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
An early exit and some underwhelming displays, on the other hand, and Berhalter is unlikely to still be in charge by the time it comes around.
All eyes on Marsch
Should Berhalter's position come under threat, the obvious candidate to replace him after the Copa America will be Jesse Marsch should he propel Canada into the knockout stages.
Marsch, who was only appointed Canada head coach last month, has a difficult task on his hands in making it out of a group consisting of reigning champions Argentina, Peru and Chile.
Yet after holding European giants France to a 0-0 stalemate last weekend, the Reds have shown they have the defensive mettle to go toe-to-toe with anyone.
Marsch came close to taking over as USMNT boss last year, only to fume at the treatment afforded to him when Berhalter's contract was instead renewed.
Jesse Marsch will be looking to make a statement with Canada after being snubbed by USMNT
'My respect for U.S. Soccer is big, but I went through a process with them, right? And I'm not going to go into it, but I wasn't treated very well in the process,' the former Leeds United and RB Leipzig boss said on CBS' "Call it What You Want" podcast.
'And so, whatever man, that's in the past now. The minute it was done I was like, "OK, I'm moving forward, and I'm going to figure out what's right for me."'
As one of the most high-profile coaches in the States, Marsch taking the USMNT helm at some point in the future seems a no-brainer.
The 50-year-old's influence on Canada this summer will therefore be under the microscope as he looks to make a statement after being snubbed by his home country.
Ballon d'Or beckons for Vini
Whisper it quietly, but the Copa America may just feature the next winner of the prestigious Ballon d'Or award.
Vinicius Jr is the frontrunner to clinch this year's gong after another masterful club season with Real Madrid, which ended with him scoring in their Champions League final triumph over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium.
Vinicius Jr can move a step closer to the Ballon d'Or by inspiring Brazil to the title this summer
The 23-year-old scored in Real Madrid's Champions League final victory earlier this month
He is now in pole position to be crowned the best player in world soccer later this year
The Brazilian forward, 23, scored 24 goals in 39 games to help Madrid seal both Europe's major club prize and the Spanish title, leaving him in pole position to be crowned the best player in the world.
His Los Blancos teammate Jude Bellingham is running him close in the Ballon d'Or standings, nevertheless, after a sensational debut season in Spain which saw the 20-year-old burst onto the scene and bag 23 goals in 42 appearances.
Should Bellingham inspire England to victory at this summer's European Championship, Vinicius may well need to do the same with Brazil at the Copa America to edge him out in the voting.
Heading into the two tournaments, it promises to be an epic shootout between the two Madrid stars for this year's award, which could prove a regular occurrence over the next decade given both are in their early 20s.
Vinicius therefore has even more incentive to inspire Brazil to a first Copa America triumph for five years, making every one of his outings for Seleção a can't-miss event.
His Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham is running him close in the Ballon d'Or standings
Vinicius therefore has even more incentive to go all the way with Brazil over in the States
MLS contingent
In a clear indication of the league's rise in quality, several MLS faces will be in action at this summer's tournament.
Messi is of course representing Argentina, while his Miami teammates Luis Suarez (Uruguay), Matias Rojas (Paraguay) and Leo Campana (Ecuador) are also set to feature.
There are a total of 11 MLS names included in their nation's squads at the Copa America, with Orlando City also boasting four players at the competition.
North America's top flight is well and truly on the up.
