INFOGRAPHIC: How much is each Copa America team worth?

Editor's note: Infographics courtesy of graphic artist Jose Silva

Much like the wealth inequality that divides the people of South America, the financial disparity between the Copa America's competing teams is massive.

For example, when Chile take the pitch against Ecuador in the competition's opener, La Roja will be hosting an opponent whose total market value is $130,673,312 lower than their own. In fact, Alexis Sanchez, Chile's highest-valued player, produces a figure that is almost equal to La Tri's entire squad.

In international football, a team's total market value refers to the sum of their players' market values at the club level. Those values take into account each player's salary, stats, age, and recent performances, among other things.

So, with stars like Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, and Sergio Aguero set to feature for Argentina, it shouldn't come as any surprise that Gerardo Martino's side are entering the Copa America with the highest total market value of any team: $553,243,152.

Interestingly, Brazil, who ranked first in the category at last year's World Cup, now sits second, likely the result of Argentina's run to the final of football's most prestigious tournament. Of course, Dunga's squad aren't far off from their southern neighbours, as their total market value is $493,927,280.

Using total market values is also a unique way of establishing the Copa America's "Group of Death." By this measure, Group C (Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela) is the competition's toughest group, with the four national teams combining for a jaw-dropping total market value of $881,738,242.

Here's a visual group-by-group guide to how much each Copa America team is worth: