Copa America Golden Ball Winners List Since 1916
Copa America Golden Ball is the recognition for being the best player of the tournament. This award has been officially given since 1987. However, there is an unofficial list existing featuring the best players of every edition in Copa America history since 1916. Check out the Copa America Golden Ball Winners List for All Time.
Best players in Copa America
Who won the Copa America Golden Ball? Carlos Valderrama is the first player to win the Copa America Golden Ball officially. Meanwhile, his compatriot James Rodriguez is the latest person to do so. Uruguay’s Isabelino Gradín was the unofficial best player of the inaugural edition back in 1916. The likes of Pele, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Suarez, Messi, and other Latin stars have had the privilege to grab this award.
Copa America Golden Ball Winners List
| Edition | Best Player Award | Country |
| 2024 | James Rodríguez | Colombia |
| 2021 | Lionel Messi | Argentina |
| 2019 | Dani Alves | Brazil |
| 2016 | Alexis Sanchez | Chile |
| 2015 | Lionel Messi | Argentina |
| 2011 | Luis Suarez | Uruguay |
| 2007 | Robinho | Brazil |
| 2004 | Adriano | Brazil |
| 2001 | Amado Guevara | Honduras |
| 1999 | Rivaldo | Brazil |
| 1997 | Ronaldo | Brazil |
| 1995 | Enzo Francescoli | Uruguay |
| 1993 | Sergio Goycochea | Argentina |
| 1991 | Leonardo Rodríguez | Argentina |
| 1989 | Ruben Sosa | Uruguay |
| 1987 | Carlos Valderrama | Colombia |
| 1983 | Enzo Francescoli | Uruguay |
| 1979 | Carlos Caszely | Chile |
| 1975 | Teófilo Cubillas | Peru |
| 1967 | Pedro Rocha | Uruguay |
| 1963 | Ramiro Blacut | Bolivia |
| 1959 | Pele | Brazil |
| 1959 | Alcides Silveira | Uruguay |
| 1957 | Omar Sívori | Argentina |
| 1956 | Óscar Míguez | Uruguay |
| 1955 | Enrique Hormazábal | Chile |
| 1953 | Heriberto Herrera | Paraguay |
| 1949 | Ademir de Menezes | Brazil |
| 1947 | José Manuel Moreno | Argentina |
| 1946 | Adolfo Pedernera | Argentina |
| 1945 | Domingos da Guia | Brazil |
| 1942 | Obdulio Varela | Uruguay |
| 1941 | Sergio Livingstone | Chile |
| 1939 | Teodoro Fernández | Peru |
| 1937 | Vicente de la Mata | Argentina |
| 1935 | José Nasazzi | Uruguay |
| 1929 | Manuel Ferreira | Argentina |
| 1927 | Manuel Seoane | Argentina |
| 1926 | José Leandro Andrade | Uruguay |
| 1925 | Manuel Seoane | Argentina |
| 1924 | Pedro Petrone | Uruguay |
| 1923 | José Nasazzi | Uruguay |
| 1922 | Fortes | Brazil |
| 1921 | Américo Tesoriere | Argentina |
| 1920 | José Piendibene | Uruguay |
| 1919 | Arthur Friedenreich | Brazil |
| 1917 | Héctor Scarone | Uruguay |
| 1916 | Isabelino Gradín | Uruguay |
Who is the best Copa America player? Leo Messi is the only player to win the Copa America Golden Ball twice officially. He won it in 2015 and 2021. Meanwhile, Enzo Francescoli was the best player twice, in 1995 officially and in 1983 unofficially. Former Argentine striker Manuel Seoane was named the Copa America MVP twice unofficially in 1925 and 1927. No player has ever won this award in back-to-back editions so far. Who got the golden ball in Copa 2024? It’s James Rodriguez from Colombia.
