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.
Why is Edinson Cavani in the top 25?
The "other" top class Uruguayan forward, Cavani is a streaky scorer with a penchant for missing some easy chances. But, as with all great scorers, he's capable of going on long runs where he seems to do nothing but put the ball in the net. A lead striker while at Napoli, Cavani has turned himself into a supporting player alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Paris Saint-Germain. Speed and athleticism are his calling cards, with the technical part of the game coming in behind them. That doesn't mean Cavani can't be part of intricate passing movements; it's just that he's best in space.
What the experts say about Cavani:
"He's a boy who scores goals -- we doubt his goal-scoring talents often and then he pops up and shows he can put the ball in the net at any time." - PSG manager Laurent Blanc.
"The presence of Cavani makes things easier for me. We help each other out. If I don't score, he does. This is something we were missing last season. He does a lot of work defensively as well and is a good addition to the team. We really need someone like him and are a stronger team than last year. If Cavani's used in the right way, he adds a lot to the team." - Former PSG striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Career highlight:
While he's won more trophies with PSG, Cavani's best season as an individual came in 2012-13 with Napoli in Serie A. That was the year the Uruguayan scored 29 times to win the Italian Golden Boot, the Capocannoniere, and helped his club to a second place finish behind Juventus.
Stat of the season:
Cavani was second on PSG (behind Ibrahimovic) with 2.7 shots per game.
What next for Cavani after the Copa America Centenario?
Cavani has two years left on his current contract at PSG and is again part of the maelstrom of transfer rumors. One thing that could keep him in France for at least another, however, is the departure of dominant figure Ibrahimovic. With the Swede moving on, Cavani should have a chance to move centrally to his preferred position.
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