Copa American Golden Boot contenders: Ranking finest finishers including Lionel Messi, Vinicius Jr, Christian Pulisic

Is this Messi's last dance with the national team? His final Copa America? We truly don't know.

However, what we do know, is that Messi is certain to contend for the Golden Boot at Copa America. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has been on fire at the club level, with 12 goals and 12 assistsfor Inter Miami this season.

The 36-year-old racked up seven total goals in Qatar in 2022, leading La Albiceleste to a FIFA World Cup title, while taking second place in the race for the Golden Boot then.

Whether this is his final Copa or not, you can bet he's going to make noise.

It's time for the Real Madrid star to step up on the international stage, especially without a proven striker to play up top for the Selecao. Centrally, they're going to rely un an unproven Evanilson, a young Endrick or an out-of-position Rodrygo.

For Vini, it's time to take his throne as the face of the Selecao, and start consistently bagging goals in the place of Neymar at their center-forward.

The frontrunner for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, the winger needs this tournament to further his candidacy - and the best way to do that is to score goals. If he can find any rhythm, there's no stopping him.

Everyone and their extended family is excited to watch Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay this summer. A system made for a target man striker like Nunez, La Celeste should be a formidable opponents for all teams.

The Liverpool striker has an eye for the net, or at least firing the ball towards it, and more often than not that results in a goal. Although he doesn't have a terrific scoring streak on the international stage, he should be one of the main-men to watch when it comes to strikers.

The biggest question mark of Copa America 2024: Who starts at striker for Argentina?

Alvarez has the talent to outscore every other attacker, double their count, if he's given the opportunity. He's stood in the shadow of Erling Haaland at the club level and Lautaro Martinez at the country level for what feels like too long.

The 24-year-old has 11goals in 36 Premier League appearances for the Cityzens this season, and for his national team, has seven in 29 total appearances.

If Lionel Scaloni is willing to hand him the reigns this summer, there's no telling what La Albiceleste could do.

The American winger had an incredible year for Milan, and his form could translate to the national team this summer when the U.S. feature in the Copa America.

Pulisic bagged 15 goals across all competitions for the Rossoneri. He was the main-man for Stefano Pioli's side, and in the buildup to this summer's tournament, he scored an outstanding freekick for the USMNT vs Brazil in an international friendly.

If the US make a run, there's a firm chance it will be due to Pulisic finding his shooting boots.

The star of Colombia, Luis Diaz has everything to prove this summer.

Last Fall, during FIFA World Cup qualifying, he scored an incredible four-minute brace to lead his side to a historic 2-1 victory over Brazil on their home ground. That match was just one of 12 they played, where Los Cafeteros went unbeaten across the calendar year while securing results against the Selecao, Uruguay, the USA and Germany in all competitions.

Diaz has the weight of his country on his shoulders. The Liverpool star knows that he has expectations to represent his nation, and come Copa America 2024, he is going to look to live up to them.

Lautaro is as clinical as they come at the club level, but it never seems to translate to the international stage. The Argentine will be competing against Alvarez for a starting role, and truly it is a toss up - Scaloni has a hard decision to make.

With Lautaro, though, you get a bit of size and someone who has consistently played 90 minutes throughout the season in comparison to Alvarez.

The Inter Milan striker bagged 24 for the Italian club this season in Serie A competitions, and if that can at ALL translate to the international stage, then he's a sure bet to contend for top scorer.

The U.S. have a striker conundrum, but it's a good one. Whether it's Monaco's Folarin Balogun, Norwich City's Josh Sargent, Coventry City's Haji Wright or PSV youngster Ricardo Pepi, there are numerous options.

What makes the USMNT striker position so exciting is what is built around them. From Pulisic and Tim Weah to Gio Reyna and Malik Tillman, the U.S. have slowly built up an elite attack that has the ability to bank goals.

If they can develop consistency in the final-third of the pitch, whoever is given the nod as the starting striker has a chance to go on a scoring spree this summer.

You may be asking yourself "Who?" Vargas isn't a sensationalized household name in the game, but in South America, he's a legend. The 34-year-old is a Copa America stalwart for Chile.

Winner of the Golden Boot of the tournament in 2015 and 2016, he knows how to score against CONMEBOL opponents.

The Atletico MG star in Brazil will report for International duty and look to earn his third award in the category, even if he is the dark horse shout of the group.

It feels silly to even write it, but the youthful Endrick really is a Golden Boot contender. He scored against both Spain and England's first-teams in international Friendlies in March and is looking like a locked-in player for the Selecao this summer.

Neither Richarlison or Gabriel Jesus have done enough in the Premier League this season to warrant automatic starting roles, unlike Madrid duo Vinicius and Rodrgyo. As a result, the starting striker role for Brazil is up for grabs, and if Endrick can make it his, there's no telling what he could do in his first international tournament.

The 17-year-old, who is set to move to Real Madrid this summer, could debut in the biggest way possible in the marquee event of the calendar year.