Welcome to #CopaRank, a weeklong look at the top 25 players we expect to see at the Copa America Centenario. Over 50 ESPN FC experts and writers from around the globe voted, and we're rolling out the results right up to opening day, U.S. vs. Colombia, on Friday.
NOTE: Dybala was omitted from the Argentina squad on May 20 during the final round of roster cuts despite being tipped to star in this summer's competition. It is expected he will represent his country at the 2016 Summer Olympics instead, having been named to the preliminary squad on May 25 against his club's wishes.
Why is Paulo Dybala in the top 25?
Dybala's range of skills is as lengthy as it is dynamic. Already a superstar at 22, the Argentine attacker is garnering praise from sources around the football world. His nickname, "La Joya" ("The Jewel") says it all; Dybala owns a world class combination of speed and technical ability that reveals itself in his penchant for dazzling on the field. An excellent dribbler, Dybala also has a high football intelligence and knows when a pass to a teammate is a better use of possession than attempting to beat four defenders. He's capable of playing across a range of attacking positions, though he has settled into a pure forward role in Massimiliano Allegri's Juventus team.
What the experts say about Dybala:
"Paulo is a great player and he has a bright future ahead of him. I have no doubt about it that people will talk about him a lot over the next few years." - Argentina teammate Lionel Messi.
"Dybala is not the new Del Piero. They have different characteristics. Paulo is the glue between midfield and attack. He is different than Del Piero. Paulo has improved a lot this season. I expected him to perform like this. He is a clever guy who has clear objectives. He plays quite far away from the goal and has grown a lot. He has to follow his own path. He has improved a lot this season and he must keep on developing next term." - Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri.
Career highlight:
Thus far in a young career, finishing as Juventus's top scorer in a title-winning season is Dybala's career highlight. The Argentine scored 19 goals in the league campaign and chipped in a further four in other competitions. In the final game of the Serie A schedule, Dybala led Juve to a 5-0 romp over Sampdoria with two goals and an assist.
Stat of the season:
According to Opta, Dybala was the youngest player in Europe to contribute 20-plus goals this season.
What next for Dybala after the Copa America Centenario?
Whatever comes for Dybala, it might not be because of his performance at the Copa America. After Argentina left him off their squad so that he could play in the Olympics, Juve chose not to release him for that tournament -- though there's a chance he could get into one of the two teams in the end. A summer off wouldn't slow the rumors, however, and word is Barcelona and Real Madrid are readying massive offers.
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