The top South American players right now are masters of the midfield and prolific goal scorers.
Who are the top South American athletes at the moment? Given the caliber of footballers that come out of the continent, it is a difficult issue to answer.
Only one World Cup has been won by Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay together compared to all of Europe. Add Chile and Colombia, and you have five nations that have recently produced players of the highest caliber.
But who are the best of the best in South America right now? Here are our picks for the top 10 players on the continent.
Best South American players right now:
10. Fabinho
The Premier League runners-up are different when Liverpool(opens in new tabFabinho )'s is absent from the lineup.
The Brazilian's quick tackling, deft positioning, and understated passing all contribute to the Reds promptly recovering possession of the ball.
Fabinho still has work to do to secure a regular starting position for his nation, but that is only because he faces tough competition from another player on this list for the holding position.
9. Gabriel Jesus
Jesus, who has long been regarded as a center striker, continues to shine for club and country in a variety of roles. On the flank, he can be a dangerous opponent, and he is skilled at timing his runs to the back post.
Lautaro Martinez, 8.
Who is Romelu? When Lukaku joined Chelsea last summer, Inter(opens in new tab) didn't need to worry because his former attack partner excelled in his absence.
Luis Diaz 7.
Luis Diaz, who joined Liverpool from Porto in January and quickly forced his way into the team's starting XI, is one of the few players to have had such an immediate impact
Neymar 6.
However, the 30-year-old continues to be Brazil's talisman on a global scale. He has 74 goals in 119 appearances for the national side and this year could surpass Pele as the all-time best scorer in his nation.
Neymar's theatrics can occasionally annoy fans and rivals alike, but with to his quick feet and deft dribbling, he commits less on-field infractions than other players.
Casemiro 5.
Casemiro, a mainstay in the Real Madrid(opens in new tab) midfield, is an expert at disrupting the flow of the game and launching his team's attack.
The Brazilian is a strong tackler and a determined opponent in midfield battles, but he's also a shrewd tactician who is frequently in position to thwart enemy assaults.
Federico Valverde 4.
Although the midfielder's work isn't always as impressive as that of his teammates, Valverde is a manager's fantasy.
Valverde is a versatile, vivacious, and technically adept midfielder who has also played as a full back and further forward on the flank.
He usually plays in the middle of the park for Uruguay because that is where he feels most comfortable.
Lionel Messi 3.
What's this, a top-10 list without Lionel Messi? The Argentine's peak years are behind him, as even @MagicalMessi and @LeoGOAT would admit, but that doesn't mean he isn't still a world-class footballer.
Alisson 2.
He is arguably the world's best one-on-one goalie, with superb positioning and quicker reflexes than you might anticipate for someone with his bulky build.
Although Alisson may be one of the greatest players in South America, the Liverpool goalkeeper will have tough competition from Ederson and Weverton for the starting spot for Brazil at the World Cup.
Vinicius Junior is 1.
Even while Neymar is Brazil's icon, his teammate in the forward position has surpassed him recently.
In the Champions League final last month, Vinicius scored the game-winning goal to cap off an outstanding individual year for Real Madrid in which he scored 22 goals and contributed 16 assists.
Vinicius is skilled, cunning, and freakishly quick, and Madrid benefits from the refinement of his final product. Qatar could follow Brazil's example.