Some nameswill remain forever in a team’s history. Alexis Sánchez‘s fairy talewith Chile will secure him lifelong recognition for his contribution to their first trophies in history.Copa America has seen the best of Alexis with La Roja.
The talented forward born in Tocopilla has had an immediate impact in his first seniorcaps and went on to become a world-renowned superstar. Alexis has featured for the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Inter Milan. But he can be proud of having performed at his best for his country as well.
Chile have hadremarkable growth over the past two decades since Marcelo Bielsa changed the team’s fortunes.His successors followed the same path and La Roja went on to win their first Copa America titles in history. Alexis Sánchez played a pivotal role in those achievements that will live long in the memory of Chile.
Alexis Sanchez holding the Copa America Centenario trophy in his left hand and the golden ball of the tournament in his right (Getty).
Alexis Sánchez’s Copa America highlights and goals
Alexis took part in his first Copa America in Argentina 2011 at 22 years of age. By then, he still was aUdinese player but not for long, as Barcelona would acquire him a few weeks after the tournament’s ending. Therefore, La Roja already had in him a great first-team player.
The best was yet to come, though. Alexis was part of Chile’s golden years in which they won two straight Copa America titles, the first ones in the team’s history. Moreover, hesealed La Roja’s first trophy ever with the last penalty shot against Argentina at home. He netted it in style, with a panenka shot, in front of a packed Estadio Nacional in Santiago as the Chilean fans went wild. One year later, he was celebrating another success in the Copa America Centenario final played in New Jersey. Check out his best moments in Copa America.
Alexis Sánchez has left his mark not only on Chile’s history but also onCopa America. He has seven goals and six assists in 22 appearances in this tournament so far. But most importantly, Alexis scored a crucial goal to secure La Roja’s first title in history, and the following year he was awarded the Copa America Centenario Golden Ball for being named the best player of the tournament.
