Alexis Sánchez, "the wonder boy" of "La Roja"

Alexis Alejandro Sánchez Sánchez, two-time CONMEBOL Copa America champion, playing with the team ‘La Roja’ (the red), was born in Tocopilla, a city in northern Chile, with a total of 25,000 residents. In this city, he was able to make his first steps in the world of football, prove that he was not just like all the rest, and that his skills would take him very far in the king of sports.

He made his debut in the Cobreloa Sports Club, at the age of 16, and was able to score his first professional goal a month later. Despite having only played 50 matches in first division, European teams had already set their eyes on him. Finally, it was Italian team, the Udinese, which took him to the old continent.

Nowadays, he is one of the most talented Chilean athletes in history, having won two CONMEBOL Copa America (in 2015 and 2016) and 14 collective trophies at the club level.

All these titles currently make him one of the most successful players, having played in some of the biggest European clubs, such as Barcelona FC, Manchester United, and Inter, in Milan.

Alexis is part of the so-called «Golden Generation» of Chilean football, made up of players such as Arturo Vidal, Claudio Bravo, Gary Medel and Eduardo Vargas, among other great stars.

To honor one of the continent’s best players in recent times, recap some of his best plays in the CONMEBOL Copa America, showing this great Chilean scorer’s goals, plays full of skill and triumphs.

Watch the highlights on YouTube

-Facts-

• Having scored 43 goals, he is the historic scorer of Chile team, beating Marcelo Salas. He is also the player with the most matches played, 132 in total.
• Out of the four participation he has made in CONMEBOL Copa America (in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019), the team has won two of them. He has played a total of 22 matches, scoring 7 goals and making 5 assists.
• On an individual level, he received an award for best goal of the competition, in 2015. He was also chosen in the dream team and won the golden ball in the 2016 Copa America.