Copa America 10 players to watch... the not-so-famous names to look out for, from Carlos Bacca to Jose Maria Gimenez

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Everybody knows about stars like Argentina's Lionel Messi, Uruguay's Luis Suarez and Jamaican Leicester City captain Wes Morgan. The likes of Willian, Sergio Aguero and Alexis Sanchez light up the Premier League on a regular basis. Javier Hernandez, Arturo Vidal, Willian, Coutinho and Co need no introduction.

Yet sometimes the most enjoyable thing about tournaments like the Copa America Centenario is discovering a player you might not have heard of, or never had the time to sit down and watch before. 

Here's Sportsmail's 10 stars to keep an eye out for in the United States this summer... your club's scouts might well be doing the same.

Copa America holders Chile are hoping to defend their title following their triumph in the tournament last year 

10. Christian Pulisic – USA

Club: Borussia Dortmund (Germany)

Position: Attacking midfield 

Age: 17

Christian Pulisic celebrates after scoring in the second half of Saturday's 4-0 friendly win over Bolivia

In January 2015 Christian Pulisic left his home in Hershey, Pennsylvania, to join German giants Borussia Dortmund. A year later he made his debut and has dazzled in the Bundesliga whenever he gets the chance, often from the bench.

At 17 he's the youngest foreign player to score in the German league and, in a warm-up friendly for the Copa America, Pulisic became the youngest player ever to score for the US national team (17 years and 253 days). He's got a bag of tricks and Jurgen Klinsmann is seriously considering putting him in the first team for the tournament.

Even if he doesn't start the opening game, against Colombia, expect to see him from the bench. If the USA are lacking creativity then he may feature in the second clash from the off, against Costa Rica. Everyone remembers Freddy Adu, who had great promise but failed to make good on it, but those who have watched Pulisic closely back him to avoid the same fate.

9. Andres Guardado – Mexico

Club: PSV (Holland) 

Position: Central midfield 

Age: 29

Mexico midfielder Andres Guardado (right) in action during the 1-0 win against Paraguay in Atlanta on Saturday

Many will have heard of Andres Guardado, but may not know about his transition from left midfielder to PSV's 'quarter-back' midfield role. He's won the title two years in a row with the Dutch side and was phenomenal as they battled with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last 16, only to lose on penalties.

Guardado is excellent on the ball, a fine passer and hard-worker to boot. Mexico are expected to go far in this tournament and he will be a key part of their efforts. They have picked a strong squad, whereas sometimes they have a shell team in this competition because they are saving their big stars for the Gold Cup.

It was Guardado who scored the winner for Mexico on Saturday as they beat Paraguay 1-0 in a warm-up friendly, keeping their unbeaten streak under new manager Juan Carlos Osorio going. They also haven't let in a goal since he took charge in October.

8. Antonio Sanabria – Paraguay

Club: Roma (Italy) 

Position: Striker 

Age: 20 

Paraguay forward Antonio Sanabria (right) holds off Mexico's Jurgen Damm at the Georgia Dome

The Paraguayan youngster was essential for Sporting Gijon in La Liga, on loan from Roma, as they avoided relegation. He became the youngest foreign player to score a brace in the Spanish top flight, at just 19 years and 277 days earlier this season, breaking a Lionel Messi record.

It's not yet been decided where he'll play next season, but many teams would like to have him. If he shines at the Copa America he'll have even more suitors.

Sanabria actually played for Barcelona's youth teams but moved away and the Catalans will regret letting him go. 'Tonny' was given a place in the squad thanks to Roque Santa Cruz's injury and will be hoping to stamp his mark on the tournament, just as he did this season in Spain.

7. Paolo Guerrero – Peru

Club: Flamengo (Brazil) 

Position: Striker 

Age: 32

Paolo Guerrero (left) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the 2015 Copa America

Peru picked one of the more experimental Copa America squads, with the old guard like Claudio Pizarro, Jefferson Farfan and Juan Manuel Vargas left out. But Paolo Guerrero will still be flying the flag for his country.

The veteran forward is called 'The Predator' and he shone last year at Copa America 2015, firing his country through to the semi-finals, where they were eventually beaten by hosts Chile.

Guerrero scored a hat-trick in the quarter-final clash with Bolivia and if Peru are to battle their way out of a group containing Brazil and Ecuador, they will need the striker to bring the goals once again.

6. Adalberto Penaranda – Venezuela

Club: Watford 

Position: Left winger 

Age: 19

Adalberto Penaranda (left) is a big threat and should combine well with West Brom's Salomon Rondon

Adalberto Penaranda is a Watford player, although Premier League fans may not have heard of him. That's because he's been on loan at Granada this season and will still be there next year too.

He scored five goals and got three assists as he helped Granada survive in La Liga, attracting interest from Liverpool and other big European clubs.

Penaranda is still a little bit rough around the edges - sometimes enthusiasm gets the better of him and he can end up in the referee's notebook - but he is a big threat and should combine well with West Brom's Salomon Rondon.

5. Carlos Bacca – Colombia

Club: AC Milan (Italy) 

Position: Striker 

Age: 29

Colombia's Carlos Bacca celebrates after scoring during the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Ecuador

While AC Milan have struggled this season, striker Carlos Bacca has impressed. And this time around, he has clear possession of Colombia's striking slot. Radamel Falcao has been axed from the squad, along with Teo Gutierrez and Jackson Martinez.

That is a clear signal to Bacca that he has the trust of his manager and can really try to make this tournament his own. But if Bacca doesn't fire, then how about Marlos Moreno? He's just 19, but both Liverpool and Inter Milan have been linked with moves for the Atletico Nacional forward.

Jose Pekerman's Colombia squad features several younger players, with the coach realising after last year's disappointing effort, in which they scored just one goal, he had to axe some of the players past their sell-by date.

4. Ever Banega – Argentina

Club: Inter Milan (Italy) 

Position: Central midfielder 

Age: 27

Ever Banega (left) of Argentina fights for the ball with Yasmani Duk of Bolivia in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers 

Argentina have such a vast galaxy of stars that when you see somebody in their team who isn't a household name, it's quite surprising.

Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel di Maria will lead the line, with Javier Mascherano patrolling midfield. But just in front of the 'Jefecito' (little boss) will be Inter's new acquisition from Sevilla, Ever Banega.

With Javier Pastore recovering from an injury, the onus will be on Banega to continue his fine form this season and feed Messi and Co. Banega can be erratic but under former club boss Unai Emery found consistency at a high level and if the Europa League winner can continue that at the Copa it could be crucial for Argentina to end their trophy drought.

3. Charles Aranguiz – Chile

Club: Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) 

Position: Central midfielder 

Age: 27

Charles Aranguiz is looking to shine in the tournament following a season that was plagued by injury

If things hadn't gone wrong, Charles Aranguiz might be better known by now. Unfortunately, after being the breakout star of last year's Copa America and earning a transfer to Bayer Leverkusen, he suffered a horrific injury. Aranguiz tore his achilles tendon and was ruled out from the end of August until the friendlies Chile played at the end of March.

Manager Juan Antonio Pizzi has kept the faith his predecessor Jorge Sampaoli had in the box-to-box midfielder and he is likely to line up with German football's other Chilean star, Arturo Vidal, as La Roja try to defend their title. Starring in this year's tournament would be a nice way for him to cap his recovery.

2. Renato Augusto - Brazil

Club: Beijing Guoan (China) 

Position: Attacking midfielder 

Age: 28

Renato Augusto (centre) is back in the Brazil fold after a four-year international absence

Renato Augusto knows better than most the risks being a footballer entails. He suffered endless injuries with Bayer Leverkusen, deciding to head back to his homeland to play for Corinthians and then Beijing Guoan, in China. While it may look like he's winding down his career, in reality it's just getting started. At least where his country is concerned.

Dunga brought him back into the fold after a four-year international absence and even though he's gone to the Chinese league, the coach will rely on him in the States.

In his first game for Brazil after heading east, Renato scored a crucial goal against Uruguay in March, dummying goalkeeper Fernando Muslera brilliantly before blasting home. Don't be fooled by the league he plays in, this could be Renato's summer.

1. Jose Maria Gimenez - Uruguay

Club: Atletico Madrid (Spain) 

Position: Centre-back 

Age: 21

Jose Maria Gimenez tackles England's Daniel Sturridge (left) during their 2014 World Cup clash

Diego Simeone thought long and hard but eventually left out Jose Maria Gimenez in the Champions League final. The young Uruguayan has been the usual first choice alongside his compatriot Diego Godin in the heart of the defence, but against Real Madrid the Argentine opted for Stefan Savic.

That would have stung Gimenez, who is the most talented young centre back in the world. He will be looking to prove a point at the Copa America, teaming up with his club-mate and brilliant learning model Godin once again. Uruguay will be missing Luis Suarez at the start of the tournament because of his hamstring problems, so Godin and Gimenez will need to keep it tight at the back to safeguard hopes until El Pistolero returns.

Gimenez has a rash side to his game that has occasionally flashed up, and perhaps that's why he was ditched for the big occasion. But cope with the pressure at the Copa America and Simeone will think twice next time.