One of the highlights of a major international tournament is discovering under-the-radar youngsters or unsung veterans. At the 2014 World Cup, Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez -- just 22 years old at the time -- elevated his global profile after impressing on the big stage. At the 2015 Copa America, longtime Chile defensive standout Gary Medel gained widespread acclaim after helping lead La Roja to the title.
Over the past month, the Copa America Centenario put a bright light on 16 teams, a handful of which made surprising runs to the knockout round and put their players in a prolonged spotlight alongside those from the tournament favorites.