The Summer of Soccer on FOX kicks off on June 14 with the European Championship in Germany, followed by the United States-hosted Copa América on June 20. The tournaments, which will both conclude on July 14, will feature some of the biggest soccer stars in Europe, South America and North America.
From now until the ball gets rolling in Munich, FOX Sports’ soccer writers Doug McIntyre and Martin Rogers will be counting down the top-100 players of the Summer of Soccer, with 50 players from the European Championship and 50 players from the Copa América.
Here’s who made the cut:
96: Edson Álvarez
Country: Mexico
Club: West Ham (England)
Position: Defensive midfielder
Age: 26
Álvarez has methodically climbed the ranks on his way to Planet Futbol’s most competitive domestic league. He began his pro career with Mexico City-based titan Club América, then spent four successful seasons in the Netherlands with Dutch powerhouse Ajax, where he became the first El Tri player to score in his maiden Champions League match. West Ham came calling for the defensive midfielder last summer with a $45 million transfer. Álvarez, a two-time World Cup participant, scored his first Premier League goal for the Hammers earlier this month.
97: Timothy Weah
Country: United States
Club: Juventus (Italy)
Position: Winger/Wingback
Age: 24
The Brooklyn-born son of former Ballon d’Or winner George Weah is making his own name in Italy, where he’s in his first season with Juve — a fierce rival of his father’s AC Milan. Weah, who started every game for the U.S. at the 2022 World Cup and scored the Americans’ tournament opening goal, has shown off his versatility in Serie A: a forward for his country, he’s lined up as a fullback in many of his 22 games. Weah, a New York Red Bulls academy product, previously won Ligue 1 with Lille and Paris Saint-Germain and a Scottish title with Celtic.
98: Sergiño Dest
Country: United States
Club: PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands)
Position: Fullback
Age: 23
Already a grizzled veteran at the sport’s highest level, Dest had played in a World Cup and for four former European champs (Ajax, Barcelona, AC Milan and PSV) by the age of 22. After falling out of favor with Barça and struggling through a tough loan spell with Milan, the silky smooth fullback has been a mainstay in PSV’s lineup, leading the Dutch power to an undefeated Eredivisie season so far plus a spot in the knockout stage of the Champions League.
99: Piero Hincapié
Country: Ecuador
Club: Bayer 04 Leverkusen (Germany)
Position: Center back
Age: 22
One reason Bayer Leverkusen is running away with the German Bundesliga title race is its stingy backline, which has conceded just 16 goals in 24 matches to date. Hincapié has been a huge part of that. After beginning the season on the substitutes’ bench, the big center back has started eight of Leverkusen’s last nine matches, seven of them wins. Hincapie made his international debut at the 2021 Copa América but is now a grizzled veteran despite his still-tender age: he played every minute of Ecuador’s three games at the 2022 World Cup.
100: Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa
(Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Country: Mexico
Club: U.S. Salernitana 1919 (Italy)
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 38
The most-capped goalkeeper in El Tri history, Ochoa will turn 39 before the 2024 Copa América is over. He’s still Mexico’s undisputed starter, though; last year, “Memo” took home Golden Glove honors after snaring his fifth career Concacaf Gold Cup title. Now playing in Italy’s Serie A after stops in the top leagues in Belgium, France and Spain, this summer could mark the former Club América star’s international swan song.
This story will be updated through the end of the countdown on June 14.
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