Uruguay’s Cavani & Suarez Co-Favorites to Win Copa América 2019 Top Scorer After Group Stage

• Copa America 2019 reaches the quarterfinal stage
• Uruguayan strikers lead the top goalscorer betting
• Messi still in the mix at +700

Copa America 2019 has reached its knockout stage, with the eight teams expected to make the quarterfinals having done so. Shocks have been few and far between and mainly limited to Colombia’s win over Argentina on opening day.

But as the battle for the trophy heats up, so too does the battle to be leading goalscorer.

Copa America 2019 Top Scorer Odds

*Odds taken 06/26/19. 

Cavani and Suarez are now both 5-1 to win top scorer in the tournament and have leapfrogged the pre-competition favorites, Messi and Neymar. Both Uruguayans were 8-1 prior to the tournament but their goals have taken their team to the quarterfinals and La Celeste looks in good shape to go a long way in the competition with their average Copa America odds reflecting their place as second-favorites.

Uruguay in Favorable Half of the Draw

In addition to having two in-form goalscorers in their team, the Uruguayans are also in the favorable half of the draw, with a quarterfinal win over Peru leaving them to face the winner of the Colombia/Chile tie in the semifinal.

If they can overcome the Peruvians, they will definitely fancy their chances of going the whole way – leaving Cavani and Suarez ample opportunity to add to their two goals each so far.

Worth noting too is that Suarez is Uruguay’s penalty-taker and so, with VAR being used, he will likely get more opportunities to add to his tally from the spot.

Plenty of Competition

The two Uruguayans are far from alone on two goals though, with no less than seven others joining them, namely, Duvan Zapata (Colombia), Koji Miyoshi (Japan), Everton (Brazil), Eduardo Vargas (Chile), Philippe Coutinho (Brazil), Darwin Machis (Venezuela) and Alexis Sanchez (Chile) – all of whom, with the exception of Miyoshi, are still actively involved in the tournament.

With so many contenders, much depends on which four teams are likely to make it to the semifinals, thus giving their strikers most game time, with the third/fourth place playoff also counting.

⚽️?️ @Alexis_Sanchez registered a goal and an assist v Japan in #CHI's #CopaAmerica opener last night! pic.twitter.com/fkJyVDTjTi

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 18, 2019

Home Advantage Counts?

So, on that basis, it’s well worth looking at the Brazil pairing of Everton and Coutinho, who have both contributed twice to their team’s impressive total of eight goals – two ahead of Uruguay and Chile.

That Coutinho is the Samba Kings’ appointed penalty taker gives him the edge over Everton and accounts for his odds of +600, compared to the +1200 on offer for his compatriot.

But if Brazil makes it to semifinals and beyond both will be well in the mix to win the Golden Boot, and are well worthy of consideration for those looking to place a leading goalscorer bet.

If the Uruguayans can overcome the Peruvians, they will definitely fancy their chances of going the whole way.

Colombian Threat

Another one who cannot be overlooked is Colombia’s Zapata, who came into the tournament off the back of a fine season in Italian football, where he scored 23 times for his loan club, Atalanta.

His chances, of course, depend heavily on Colombia beating Chile and making it to the semifinals but in terms of in-form strikers, he’s definitely the man. At +800, he’s well worth a punt.

Colombia have qualified for the knockout stages after defeating a well-organised Qatar side 1-0 courtesy of an 86th minute goal from Duvan Zapata.#CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/Xlsrubzf0E

— Football Pundit (@Futball_Pundit) June 20, 2019

Finally, to ignore Messi, even in a stuttering Argentina team, is unwise, even though he has only scored a single goal at this stage. The little magician remains capable of winning games on his own and therefore carrying his country – on his own slight shoulders – the whole way.

While +800 may not appear overly generous, he’s more than capable of still winning that Golden Boot.

Our pick: Philippe Coutinho  +600