As a result, Santiago 2023 men's handball features many players who shine for leading teams in the Champions League, the European League, or major Spanish, French, and even German teams, with special mention for the Argentinean and Brazilian national teams, which have dominated in the two rounds of the group stage.

After the women's competition ended with 'Verdeamarelha' (Brazil) defeating 'Albiceleste' (Argentina) 18-30, with seven goals from Francielle da Rocha (a key player for Romanian club Dunărea Brăila), it was the men's turn, with the same national teams as the top favourites, not forgetting Chile and Cuba.

Reigning champions Argentina have put together a strong squad, with 13 of the 17 players named by coach Guillermo Milano playing abroad. Among them are former Barcelona goalkeeper Leo Maciel (Sporting, Portugal), the 'brain' Diego Simonet (Montpellier, France) and his partner Pablo (Cuenca, Spain), the wingers Nico Bonnano (Anaitasuna, Spain) and Fede Pizarro (Cuenca), and pivot Gastón Mouriño (Constanta, Romania).

Brazil, on the other hand, are hoping to regain the title they lost in Lima 2019 (they won the bronze), and they've put together an excellent team with two Barcelona players (winger Haniel Langaro and great defender Thiagus Petrus), goalkeeper Rangel Luan (Saint Raphaël, France), pivot Rogerio Moraes (Melsungen, Germany), winger Rudoplh Hackbarth (Cuenca, Spain), centre-back Joao Pedro (CSM Bucuresti, Romania), and deadly striker Leo Dutra (Ah-Ahli, Saudi Arabia).

In this highly competitive tournament, hosts and reigning runners-up Chile shouldn't be underestimated. They have the Salinas brothers, Esteban and Rodrigo (Bidasoa, Spain), Erwin (Toulouse, France), and Emil Feuchtmann, now 41 and playing for Elda in Spain's second division. 

The first two rounds of the group stage have already been played, and everything points to a final between Brazil and Argentina, with only the hosts having a say. Argentina opened their tournament with a 28-14 win over the United States, with Fede Pizarro scoring five goals, and on Tuesday, they beat Uruguay 16-37, again with a great Pizarro (nine goals). They will face Cuba on Wednesday, two days before the semi-finals.

In the other group, Brazil put on a show on its debut against an undermanned Mexico team, winning 51-19 with Leo Dutra scoring 10 goals and Jean Pierre Dupoix netting 13. On Tuesday, they defeated the Dominican Republic 20-36 (Hackbarth made seven of his eight attempts). This Wednesday, they will take on hosts Chile in the first big game of the Pan American Games, with the grand final on Saturday.