Three Paris Saint-Germain players will be in action for their countries in the Copa America, which starts on Thursday.
Three players, Lucas Beraldo, Marquinhos (both Brazil) and Manuel Ugarte (Uruguay), could add their names to a quintet who have won the continental title while playing for Paris Saint-Germain: Leonardo in 1997, Marquinhos and Thiago Silva in 2019, both with Brazil, and Argentine duo Angel Dí Maria and Leandro Paredes during the most recent tournament in Brazil in 2021.
A number of former Parisians have taken part in the tournament.
The first to feature in the Copa America was Osvaldo Ardiles, who played for Argentina in the 1975 tournament. The World Cup winner was knocked out in the group stage. In 1989, Brazil won on home soil and had Ricardo (captain) and Valdo in their ranks – they would join Paris two years later.
Leonardo was part of the winning side in 1997, and repeated the feat two years later in Paraguay with four other former Paris players: Vampeta, Cesar, Christian and Ronaldinho.
In 2001, Mario Yepes won with Colombia on home soil. Playing at River Plate at the time, he played all six matches in the tournament.
Six years later, the 2007 edition in Venezuela ended with a Brazil vs. Argentina final, and a second successive win for Brazil with Alex, Daniel Alves (who both started) and Vampeta (substitute) against Gabriel Heinze’s Argentina (3-0, 15/07/2007).
In 2011, Uruguay, despite Edinson Cavani’s injury (on the bench in the final) won the title against Paraguay (3-0, 24/07/2011) with Diego Lugano lifting the trophy.
Eight years later, Thiago Silva and Marquinhos helped end Brazil’s 12-year wait to win the title again by defeating surprise packages Peru 3-1 in the final on home soil (07/07/2019).
Argentina succeeded them two years later, beating Brazil at the Maracanã (1-0, 10/07/2021). Angel Dí Maria, a runner-up in 2015 and 2016, scored the only goal in a stadium that was virtually empty due to the COVID-19 pandemic (7800 fans). The joy of the Argentines, who also included Leandro Paredes and Lionel Messi, who lifted his first Copa America, contrasted starkly with the disappointment of Marquinhos, Neymar Jr, and captain Thiago Silva.
The 2024 edition could see a Parisian player win the title for a third successive time. The answer will come on 14 July in Miami.