Copa Libertadores
The Copa Libertadores (Copa Libertadores de América), the tournament between the domestic league winners, was established in 1960. The structure is a combined knock-out and group stage tournament in which the knock-out matches are decided by two-legged ties.
Winners and runners-up
All the winners and runners-up trough the years of the Copa Libertadores.
| Season | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Botafogo | Atlético Mineiro |
| 2023 | Fluminense | Boca Juniors |
| 2022 | Flamengo | Athletico Paranaense | 2021 | Palmeiras | Flamengo |
| 2020 | Palmeiras | Santos |
| 2019 | Flamengo | River Plate |
| 2018 | River Plate | Boca Juniors | 2017 | Grêmio | Lanús | 2016 | Atlético Nacional | Independiente del Valle | 2015 | River Plate | UANL | 2014 | San Lorenzo | Nacional | 2013 | Atlético Mineiro | Olimpia | 2012 | Corinthians | Boca Juniors | 2011 | Santos | Peñarol | 2010 | Internacional | Guadalajara | 2009 | Estudiantes | Cruzeiro | 2008 | LDU Quito | Fluminense |
| 2007 | Boca Juniors | Grêmio |
| 2006 | Internacional | São Paulo |
| 2005 | São Paulo | Atlético Paranaense |
| 2004 | Once Caldas | Boca Juniors |
| 2003 | Boca Juniors | Santos |
| 2002 | Olimpia | São Caetano |
| 2001 | Boca Juniors | Cruz Azul |
| 2000 | Boca Juniors | Palmeiras |
| 1999 | Palmeiras | Deportivo Cali | 1998 | Vasco da Gama | Barcelona SC |
| 1997 | Cruzeiro | Sporting Cristal |
| 1996 | River Plate | América de Cali |
| 1995 | Grêmio | Atlético Nacional |
| 1994 | Vélez Sársfield | São Paulo |
| 1993 | São Paulo | Universidad Católica |
| 1992 | São Paulo | Newell's Old Boys |
| 1991 | Colo-Colo | Olimpia |
| 1990 | Olimpia | Barcelona SC |
| 1989 | Atlético Nacional | Olimpia |
| 1998 | Nacional | Newell's Old Boys |
| 1987 | Peñarol | América de Cali |
| 1986 | River Plate | América de Cali |
| 1985 | Argentinos Juniors | América de Cali |
| 1984 | Independiente | Grêmio |
| 1983 | Grêmio | Peñarol |
| 1982 | Peñarol | Cobreloa |
| 1981 | Flamengo | Cobreloa |
| 1980 | Nacional | Internacional |
| 1979 | Olimpia | Boca Juniors |
| 1978 | Boca Juniors | Deportivo Cali |
| 1977 | Boca Juniors | Cruzeiro |
| 1976 | Cruzeiro | River Plate |
| 1975 | Independiente | Unión Española |
| 1974 | Independiente | São Paulo |
| 1973 | Independiente | Colo-Colo |
| 1972 | Independiente | Universitario |
| 1971 | Nacional | Estudiantes |
| 1970 | Estudiantes | Peñarol |
| 1969 | Estudiantes | Nacional |
| 1968 | Estudiantes | Palmeiras |
| 1967 | Racing | Nacional |
| 1966 | Peñarol | River Plate |
| 1965 | Independiente | Peñarol |
| 1964 | Independiente | Nacional |
| 1963 | Santos | Boca Juniors |
| 1962 | Santos | Peñarol |
| 1961 | Peñarol | Palmeiras |
| 1960 | Peñarol | Olimpia |
History
The Copa Libertadores was not the first ever club competition on the continent, in 1948 the South American Championship of Champions was played and involved clubs from seven countries. This competition was, however, only played once and the Copa Libertadores become the first annually held tournament that involved the whole continent (since 1998 has also Mexican clubs been included).
Statistics
The club that have won the tournament the most times is Independiente with seven trophies (1964, 1965, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1984). Boca Juniors is the team that have reach the finals the most times, eleven in total, once more than Peñarol. Table 2 show the clubs that have won the most titles in the Copa Libertadores.
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Independiente | 7 |
| Boca Juniors | 6 |
| Peñarol | 5 |
| River Plate | 4 |
| Estudiantes | 4 |
| Olimpia | 3 |
| Nacional | 3 |
| São Paulo | 3 |
| Grêmio | 3 |
| Santos | 3 |
| Flamengo | 3 |
| Palmeiras | 3 |
| Cruzeiro | 2 |
| Internacional | 2 |
| Atlético Nacional | 2 |
The other clubs that has won the cup on one occasion are Colo-Colo, Racing, Flamengo, Argentinos Juniors, Vélez Sársfield, Vasco da Gama, Once Caldas, LDU Quito, Corinthians, Atlético Mineiro, San Lorenzo, Fluminese and Botafogo.
A comparison between countries tells that Argentine clubs has been the most successful through history in the Copa Libertadores (see table 3).
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Argentina | 24 |
| Brazil | 24 |
| Uruguay | 8 |
| Colombia | 3 |
| Paraguay | 3 |
| Chile | 1 |
| Ecuador | 1 |
Besides the listed countries, clubs from Mexico and Peru has reach the final in the competition.
Copa Libertadores timeline
1960 The competition is established.
1960 Peñarol becomes the first winner of the competition.
1961 Peñarol becomes the first club to win the tournament two years in a row (1960-1961).
1970 Estudiantes becomes the first club to win the tournament three years in a row (1969-1970).
1971 Estudiantes becomes the first club to reach four finals in a row (1968-1971).
1975 Independiente becomes the first club to win the tournament four years in a row (1972-1975).
1979 Olimpia becomes the first Paraguayan club to win the competition.
1989 Atlético Nacional becomes the first Colombian club to win the competition.
1991 Colo-Colo becomes the first Chilean club to win the competition.
1998 Mexico is participating for the first time.
2005 Two clubs from the same country are for the first competing in a final (São Paulo vs. Atlético Paranaense, both from Brazil).
2008 LDU Quito becomes the first Ecuadorian club to win the competition.
2018 Two Argentine clubs are for the first competing in a final (São Paulo and Atlético Paranaense).
External resources
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copa_Libertadores