Teams win Championships, but everyone often looks for players to lead their group to victory.

The Copa America has some of the most prominent stars in all of international soccer leading the way for their respective nations and they will have to deal with tremendous spotlight on a big stage. Which superstar will shine brightest?

Here are the contenders for the Golden Ball before the tournament gets going.

Lionel Messi

Messi is undeniably in peak form heading into this tournament. His 58 goals in 2014-15 for Barcelona were fascinating but his ability to alter his style of play to be a more supportive player will certainly play a huge factor in Argentina's fortunes.

He was crucial in last summer's World Cup even if he slowly flamed out as the event wore on.

This tournament is shorter and Argentina will be playing far weaker competition in the early going, allowing Messi ample time to breathe and rest if need be.

This tournament is crucial to his legacy as Argentina has won nothing during his tenure. If he wants to end the "Best of All time" conversations, he would need to lead his nation somewhere.

Messi's record in the Copa America has been poor as the superstar has just two goals in 10 games at the tournament.

Neymar

Brazil enters the tournament as major favorite for a number of reasons.

The team has not conceded a goal since the 3-0 loss against the Dutch in the World Cup's third place game.

However, the main reason for the team's favoritism is the emergence of Neymar. He scored 40 goals for Barcelona this season, but, unlike teammate Messi, he has always been solid for Brazil. He led the team to the Confederations Cup win in 2013, winning the Gold Ball in the process.

In the World Cup last summer, he managed four goals and led a mediocre team to the semifinals. He has scored 43 goals for his nation in just 62 games and looks primed for a big tournament given his current form.

James Rodriguez

The Colombian emerged as a superstar after last year's World Cup and his performance with Real Madrid in 2014-15, which yielded 17 goals and 15 assists, was fantastic. He won't have as much space as he did a year ago and is probably not the focal point of the attack (Radamel Falcao now gets that honor), but Rodriguez is the game changer on Colombia and if he plays the way he did over the last year, he could lead this swashbuckling Colombian side to a title victory.

This will be Rodriguez's second major tournament for Colombia and his first ever Copa America participation.

Alexis Sanchez

Chile remains among the top contenders to lift the tournament and the man who would be looked upon as the star man is the Arsenal forward.

Sanchez finally got a chance to be the star man on a club and he relished the opportunity in tremendous fashion. He scored 25 goals in 52 appearances for the club, cementing himself as a major asset for the Gunners. In many ways, he was Arsenal's MVP and he will need to bring that same value to Chile if the team is to lift the trophy in its own nation.

Sanchez has 26 goals in 80 appearances for Chile. He has only played in one Copa America, scoring one goal in the 2011 campaign.

Other players to look out for

Arturo Vidal could seize the spotlight from Sanchez. Falcao could do the same to Rodriguez if he taps into his scoring touch and scores Colombia to victory.

In Argentina, there is a possibility that Sergio Aguero or even Carlos Tevez wind up stealing Messi's thunder; that seems a bit improbable as any success Argentina gains will always be linked with Barcelona man, even if he fails to score prominently. However, anything can happen and big tournament from Argentina's forwards could give them an edge.

Edinson Cavani could find himself in the conversation if he has a big tournament and helps Uruguay to some semblance of respect.