The Copa 2024 concluded with Argentina securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Colombia, thereby defending the title successfully. Meanwhile Canada achieved an impressive feat by reaching the semi-finals in their debut appearance. While underdog teams like Venezuela surprised everyone with their strong performance, formidable teams like Uruguay also positioned themselves as contenders for the title.
On the other hand, players like James Rodriguez and Lautaro Martinez rose to the occasion and gave their best for the team. Brazil, a strong contender for the Copa 2024 failed to live up to expectations. Star players like Santiago Gimenez and Weston McKennie faltered on the big stage, resulting in an underwhelming performance.
Here are five players everyone expected to do well but failed to live up to their reputations.
Cyle Larin (Canada)
Cyle Larin entered Copa 2024 as one of Canada’s most prolific goal scorers. Along with Jonathan David, the duo were entrusted to spearhead the team’s attacking line. Unfortunately, Larin struggled to leave his mark, failing to find the back of the net or contribute any assists.
The Mallorca man played 400 minutes in the Copa 2024, starting in the first five matches. He only attempted 7 shots and tested the goalkeeper twice during these minutes. Additionally, he was dispossessed 11 times and did not assert his dominance on the game.
With him in the side, Canada only scored 2 goals in the 5 matches he played. Without him, they matched the same tally in just one game, playing a thrilling 2-2 draw against Uruguay in the third place clash, which they eventually lost in the penalty shootout. 
Weston McKennie (USA)
Being the hosts, Weston McKennie and the USA entered Copa 2024 as strong favorites. However, they failed to make an impact and were eliminated in the group stage. Unlike his usual self, McKennie could not create any significant opportunities for the team and did not even manage to register a shot on target throughout the entire group stage.
McKennie’s performance in the midfield was a cause for concern. His passing accuracy stood at a modest 75.4%, below par for a player of his level. In addition, his defensive capabilities were lacking, as he only won 20% of his ground duels and 16.7% of his aerial duels. These statistics shed light on his struggles to assert himself in crucial midfield battles, ultimately impacting the team’s overall performance.
Rodrygo (Brazil)
Brazil’s offensive strategy relied on the lethal partnership of Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior in Copa 2024. Expectations were high for Rodrygo, especially after his remarkable performance with Real Madrid this season. However, he failed to replicate his club form for the nation, having scored no goal and any assist.
He was on the field for 329 minutes but struggled to make an impact when used as a striker, an unusual position for him. Especially in the quarter-final against Uruguay, he was particularly disappointing. He couldn’t create any goal-scoring opportunities nor did he manage to test the opposition’s goalkeeper even once. Throughout the entire Copa 2024, he had only two shots on target, indicating his lack of attacking contribution.
Santiago Gimenez (Mexico)
Santiago Gimenez was considered one of the most promising forwards coming into Copa 2024, after an outstanding season with Feyenoord in the Dutch league. His remarkable performance included a record-breaking 26 goals for the club. However, despite high expectations, he struggled to replicate his domestic success and failed to score a single goal in the competition.
Throughout the tournament, he represented the team for a total of 219 minutes, but unfortunately, his efforts were not enough to help Mexico advance beyond the group stage. During these matches, Gimenez only managed to make 62 touches, with 18 of them taking place in the opposition’s box. It’s worth noting that Mexico was placed in a group alongside Jamaica, Venezuela, and Ecuador, and despite their strong potential, they missed a significant opportunity to progress to the quarter-finals.
Raphinha (Brazil)
Raphinha was poised to grab the spotlight in the Copa 2024. Following a stellar season with Barcelona, during which he scored 10 goals and provided 11 assists, expectations were high. However, he struggled to deliver on the main stage, managing just one goal in four matches. This lone goal was a spectacular free kick that he scored against Colombia.
Throughout the competition, Raphinha struggled to make a significant impact on the team. His performance was especially lacking in ball control, as evidenced by his low 75% passing accuracy. Throughout four matches, Raphinha only managed to acquire 151 touches, with a mere 15 of those occurring in the opposition’s box. Interestingly, Brazil’s most impressive showing in the tournament occurred when Raphinha was not on the field, as they secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Paraguay, with Savio delivering a standout performance in Raphinha’s absence.
