Diego Forlán shares his opinions on the Copa America and the future of South American football.

Uruguayan former footballer Diego Forlán recently granted an interview in which he shared his opinions on the current state of South American football and the Copa América being held in the United States. Forlán, renowned for his successful career and achievements with the Uruguayan national team, has offered his perspective on various relevant topics in the football world. According to Forlán, Uruguay is shaping up as one of the top contenders to win the title in this edition of the Copa América. He highlighted the strong performance of the Uruguayan national team, which has secured important victories against Argentina and Brazil, generating excitement among fans. Additionally, he mentioned Argentina and Brazil as high-quality teams also in the running for the championship. Regarding the obligation to win the Copa América, Forlán dismissed the notion that there is pressure on any specific team to do so. While acknowledging that teams like Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia have real chances of clinching the title, he believes that no team is under an obligation to win. The conversation also touched on Lionel Messi, who is competing in this Copa América, possibly his last, at a time when his future with the Argentine national team is uncertain. Forlán expressed the opinion that if Messi manages to win the tournament, he could remain in contention for a Ballon d'Or, despite playing in the Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. Regarding Messi's continuity with the Argentine national team leading up to the 2026 World Cup, Forlán expressed doubts, indicating that the priority for the Argentine star at this stage of his career seems to be rest and family. However, he highlighted Messi's footballing quality, which would allow him to continue competing for more years if he chooses to do so. At another point in the interview, Diego Forlán recalled his achievement of winning a Ballon d'Or at the 2010 World Cup, surpassing figures like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This recognition, along with his two Golden Boots, holds a special value for him as they were obtained while competing for teams that were not part of the European elite. The appointment of Jorge Fossati as the coach of the Peruvian national team in this Copa América was also analyzed by Forlán, who praised the experience and ability of the Uruguayan strategist. He believes Fossati is the right person to drive the resurgence of the Peruvian team, and his successful track record supports this assertion. The controversy surrounding the call-up of Paolo Guerrero, due to his age (40 years), and Christian Cueva, who has been out of competition for eight months due to an injury, was also addressed in the interview. Forlán supported Guerrero's inclusion, highlighting his experience and quality, and defended Cueva's presence in the squad as an important reference for the group. Regarding the Euro Cup and Kylian Mbappé's opinion on the competition in that tournament, Forlán emphasized that the World Cup remains the most significant event in world football and that the difficulty of qualifying for both competitions varies by region. He also reflected on the expansion of World Cup spots, noting that it will provide opportunities for countries that previously did not have access to this stage, although it will also entail a higher level of competition in the final stages of the tournament. In summary, Diego Forlán's perspective sheds light on the current state of South American and global football, as well as on the Copa América and the future of the sport's stars. His experience and knowledge in the football world allow him to offer a deep and enriching analysis for fans and followers of the world's most popular sport.