Peru kicked off theirCopa America 2021 campaign knowing they wouldn’t be counting on one of their greatest players, Paolo Guerrero. Ricardo Gareca‘s 26-man roster had the shocking absence of the veteran striker, who has been the face of the team over the last years.
The 37-year-oldcenter-forward has been La Blanquirroja’s leader for the past decade and more. Not only he scored 39goals in 104 appearances, but he has also helped the team reaching their first World Cup in 36 years and a Copa America final in 2019.
Moreover, Guerrero has played such a pivotal role in Peru that he became the team’s leading goalscorer in the continental competition, being the active player with the most goals alongside Eduardo Vargas, who tied him in this edition. Then why is he not playingCopa America 2021?
The reason why Paolo Guerrero is missing the Copa America 2021
Soccer fans got used to seeing only one man leading La Blanquirroja’s attack, Guerrero, who asides from being the main man in front has wornthe armband and carried the team all by himself multiple times. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it to the current continental cup.
Ricardo Gareca confirmed that Paolo Guerrero wasn’t called up by Peru for the Copa America 2021 because he is still recovering from a physical problem. Apparently, Guerrero is still in pain inhis right knee, where he suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament in August 2020.
Even though he returned to action in March 2021, the Peruvian legend has not been able to play frequently as he only took part in eight games in about four months. Guerrero started in Peru’s 0-3 loss against Colombia in the World Cup Qualifiers in June but then missed the victory over Ecuador before being ruled out for the Copa America 2021.