James Rodriguez rejuvenated, Lionel Messi motivated, Emiliano Martinez magnificent: Top 11 players in Copa America ranked

There are a few possible shouts here. Marcelo Bielsa had Uruguay playing some lovely soccer. Jesse Marsch drew a terrific tournament out of Canada with less than two months on the job. Lionel Scaloni, yet again, has overseen Argentina admirably. But Lorenzo perhaps deserves the most credit. Los Cafeteros are almost 30 games undefeated, and they have their manager to thank - he has pulled the best out of a talented group.

His domestic form may be patchy, but Nunez certainly knows how to perform for his country. Uruguay boss Marcelo Bielsa has gotten the best out of the mercurial forward, asking him to run after the ball and put it in the net. There have certainly been a few poor misses, but his return of two goals in the group stage was tidy enough. He may other issues off-the-pitch, however, with potential consequences coming from the post-match altercation with Colombia fans after the semifinal.

It says a lot about Messi that the Argentina captain can miss one game, disappear for another, hit the bar in a penalty shootout, and still be one of the best players of the tournament. Yes, his goalscoring numbers have disappointed. Yes, he has looked leggy at times. But his ability to create chances, make things happen without the ball, and inspire his side are invaluable. He may have received plenty of help, but Argentina would still be nowhere without him.

What a fun footballer. Shaffelburg started the tournament as a lively bench presence capable of stretching the game late. But by the quarterfinal stage he was a crucial starter, and a standout player as Les Rouges knocked out a tough Venezuela side.

It hasn't been a strong tournament for fullbacks. Some of the top wide defenders in world football have endured disappointing performances, while very few have enjoyed the kind of breakout showings to earn a big move. Munoz, though, stands as an exception. The Crystal Palace right back scored twice in the group stage, assisted against Panama in the last eight, and turned in countless strong defensive showings. Even a silly red card in the semifinal can't take away from his memorable few weeks.

Ecuador have a right to feel aggrieved after their quarterfinal exit to Argentina. They were, admittedly, the better team for long stretches of the game - and deserved to win. Hincapie was not only crucial in that game but a standout throughout the campaign. A center back comfortable on the left, the Bayer Leverkusen man relished his individual battles and showed a surprising amount of attacking quality from an unfamiliar position.

La Albiceleste's strength hasn't been their attacking prowess. Rather, this is an excellent defensive unit who control games - and take their chances as they come. Romero has been central to that effort, winning tackles for fun and also showing some admittedly uncharacteristic composure at the back.

What more is there to say about Real Madrid's Mr. Versatile? The midfielder does a bit of everything for his club, and reached those same levels for his country. Valverde was everywhere all tournament, scoring goals, winning tackles, creating chances, and serving as a valuable leader in the middle of the park. One of the best in the world.

Is there a winger harder to tackle in world football? "Lucho" may be inconsistent in front of goal, but his ability to stretch play is invaluable for a Colombia side that is simply devastating on the break. Good luck getting the ball off him, too.

Argentina's strategy is simple: surround Messi with as many hard-working midfielders as possible. If they happen to be world class box-to-box presences, that's a bonus. Such is the case with De Paul, whose playmaking and goalscoring chops have shined through this summer. His expert gamesmanship against Canada is worthy of this list alone.

Take Argentina to penalties at your peril. Martinez isn't the most accomplished shot stopper, but there isn't a better spot-kick specialist in world football at the moment. He turned in another signature performance to send Ecuador home, saving two penalties and making up for a rare Lionel Messi miss with a fine showing. He's also only conceded once all tournament

A man reborn, James reminded everyone just how good he can be at Copa America. A creative beast with a sweet left foot, the Sao Paolo man has looked like his old, world-beating self. Where was this player for the last five years?