Pinnacle make Lionel Messi the most likely top scorer at Copa America 2024

With the tournament almost upon us, bookmaker Pinnacle have made Argentina's Lionel Messi the man to back to top score at the competition. He is available at 4.01 heading into the event, but is he the man to back?

Lionel Messi has been in great form in the MLS for Inter Miami, and he has been installed as the favourite to top score at the upcoming Copa America. 

Pinnacle have made the forward 4.01 to score the most goals, with Argentina one of the sides tipped to go far at the Copa America. 

Fresh from winning the Champions League with Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior is available at 5.50, while Uruguay's Darwin Nunez is 5.49. 

Ahead of the tournament, there are a number of options below 10.00, with Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez also favoured. 

Brazilian forward Rodrygo is available at 11.25 and may be the outside pick for many. Rodrygo has made a habit out of scoring goals for Real Madrid, with the forward netting big goals at important times. 

When it comes to backing the top scorer in a knockout competition, you need to weigh up whether you should bet on a player that will play most of the matches up to the final, or if you are better off backing a player that will score more goals over a shorter period of time.

For example, if a player starts against three weak teams in the group stage and scores a number of goals before being eliminated in the first knockout round, will they outscore a player that is more steady and unspectacular with their goals but plays for a side that makes it to the final? 

Which player do you think will top score at the 2024 Copa America? Will Lionel Messi lead from the front for Argentina and bag the most goals, or will another player top the charts?