Copa Libertadores

South american association football tournament for clubs

Football tournament
The CONMEBOL Libertadores, besides known as the Copa Libertadores de América ( portuguese : Copa Libertadores da América ), is an annual external golf club football competition organized by CONMEBOL since 1960. It is the highest degree of competition in South american club football. The tournament is named after the Libertadores ( spanish and portuguese for liberators ), the leaders of the south american wars of independence, [ 1 ] then a actual translation of its former name into English is “ America’s Liberators Cup “.

Reading: Copa Libertadores

The competition has had respective formats over its life. initially, alone the champions of the confederacy american english leagues participated. In 1966, the runner-up of the south american leagues began to join. In 1998, mexican teams were invited to compete and contested regularly from 2000 until 2016. In 2000 the tournament was expanded from 20 to 32 teams. today at least four clubs per country compete in the tournament, with Argentina and Brazil having the most representatives ( six and seven clubs, respectively ). A group stage has always been used but the number of teams per group has varied. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] In the salute format, the tournament consists of eight stages, with the beginning phase taking rate in late January. The four surviving teams from the first three stages join 28 teams in the group degree, which consists of eight groups of four teams each. The eight group winners and eight runner-up enter the smasher stages, which end with the final in November. The winner of the Copa Libertadores becomes eligible to play in the FIFA Club World Cup and the Recopa Sudamericana. [ 3 ] Independiente of Argentina is the most successful club in the cup ‘s history, having won the tournament seven times. Argentine clubs have accumulated the most victories with 25 wins, while Brazil has the largest number of winning teams, with 10 clubs having won the deed. The cup has been won by 25 clubs, 15 of them more than once, and six clubs have won two years in a row. [ 4 ]

history [edit ]

The clashes for the Copa Aldao between the champions of Argentina and Uruguay kindled the mind of continental competition in the 1930s. [ 1 ] In 1948, the south american english Championship of Champions ( spanish : Campeonato Sudamericano de Campeones ), the most directly precursor to the Copa Libertadores, was played and organized by the Chilean club Colo-Colo after years of plan and organization. [ 1 ] Held in Santiago, it brought together the champions of each nation ‘s acme national leagues. [ 1 ] The tournament was won by Vasco da Gama of Brazil. [ 1 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] The 1948 South american tournament impulsed, in continent-wide range, the “ champions cup ” model, resulting in the creation of the european Cup in 1955, as confirmed by Jacques Ferran ( one of the “ establish fathers ” of the European Cup ), in a 2015 interview with a brazilian television receiver sports program. [ 7 ] In 1958, the basis and format of the rival were created by Peñarol ‘s circuit board leaders. On October 8, 1958, João Havelange announced, at a UEFA meet he attended as an guest, the creation of Copa de Campeones de America ( american Champions Cup, renamed in 1965 as Copa Libertadores ), as a south american equivalent of the european Cup, so that the champion cabaret of both continental confederations could decide “ the best clubhouse team of the populace ” in the Intercontinental Cup. [ 8 ] [ 9 ] On March 5, 1959, at the 24th South american Congress held in Buenos Aires, the rival was ratified by the International Affairs Committee. In 1965, it was named in award of the heroes of south american liberation, such as Simón Bolívar, José de San Martín, Pedro I, Bernardo O’Higgins, and José Gervasio Artigas, among others. [ 1 ]
The first edition of the Copa Libertadores took seat in 1960. Seven teams participated : Bahia of Brazil, Jorge Wilstermann of Bolivia, Millonarios of Colombia, Olimpia of Paraguay, Peñarol of Uruguay, San Lorenzo of Argentina and Universidad de Chile. All these teams were domestic champions of their respective leagues in 1959. The inaugural Copa Libertadores meet took station on April 19, 1960. It was won by Peñarol, who defeated Jorge Wilstermann 7–1. The inaugural goal in Copa Libertadores history was scored by Carlos Borges of Peñarol. The Uruguayans won the inaugural ever edition, defeating Olimpia in the finals, and successfully defended the title in 1961. [ 10 ]
The Copa Libertadores did not receive international attention until its third edition, when the sublime football of a Santos team led by Pelé, considered by some the best club team of all time, earned worldwide admiration. [ 11 ] Os Santásticos, besides known as O Balé Branco ( the white ballet ) won the deed in 1962 defeating defending champions Peñarol in the finals. [ 12 ] A year late, O Rei and his compatriot Coutinho demonstrated their skills again in the form of tricks, dribbles, backheels, and goals including two in the second branch of the final examination at La Bombonera, to subdue Boca Juniors 2–1 and retain the trophy. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] Argentine football ultimately inscribed their diagnose on the winner ‘s list in 1964 when Independiente became the champions after disposing of reigning champions Santos and Uruguayan side Nacional in the finals. [ 14 ] [ 15 ] Independiente successfully defended the deed in 1965 ; [ 15 ] Peñarol would defeat River Plate in a playoff to win their third base title, [ 10 ] and Racing would go on to claim the spoils in 1967. [ 16 ] One of the most significant moments in the tournament ‘s early history occurred in 1968 which saw Estudiantes participate for the first base time. [ 17 ] Estudiantes, a modest neighborhood clubhouse and a relatively minor team in Argentina, had an unusual vogue that prioritized athletic formulation and achieving results at all costs. [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] Led by coach Osvaldo Zubeldía and a team built around figures such as Carlos Bilardo, Oscar Malbernat and Juan Ramón Verón, went on to become the beginning ever tricampeón of the competition. [ 22 ] [ 23 ] [ 24 ] [ 25 ] The pincharratas won their first base entitle in 1968 by defeating Palmeiras. They successfully defended the title in 1969 and 1970 against Nacional and Peñarol, respectively. [ 26 ] [ 27 ] Although Peñarol was the first club to win three titles, Estudiantes was the first to win three back-to-back titles .

Argentine ten : 1970–1979 [edit ]

The 1970s were dominated by Argentine clubs, except for three seasons. In a replay of the 1969 finals, Nacional emerged as the champions of the 1971 tournament after overcoming an Estudiantes team depleted of identify players. [ 28 ] With two titles already under their belt, Independiente created a winning rule with the likes of Francisco Sa, José Omar Pastoriza, Ricardo Bochini and Daniel Bertoni : pillars of the titles of 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1975. [ 15 ] Independiente ‘s home stadium, La Doble Visera, became one of the most awful venues for visiting teams to play at. [ 29 ] The beginning of these titles came in 1972 when Independiente came up against Universitario de Deportes of Peru in the finals. Universitario became the first team from the Pacific slide to reach the finals after eliminating uruguayan giants Peñarol and defending champions Nacional at the semifinal stage. The first gear leg in Lima ended in a 0–0 bind, while the second peg in Avellaneda finished 2–1 in favor of the home team. Independiente successfully defended the title a year late against Colo-Colo after winning the playoff match 2–1. Los Diablos Rojos retained the trophy in 1974 after defeating São Paulo 1–0 in a hard-fought playoff. In 1975, Unión Española besides failed to dethrone the champions in the finals after losing the playoff 2–0. The reign of Los Diablos Rojos last ended in 1976 when they were defeated by fellow Argentine golf club River Plate in the second phase in a dramatic playoff for a set in the finals. however, in the finals River Plate themselves would be beaten by Cruzeiro of Brazil, which was the first victory by a brazilian club in 13 years. [ 30 ] After having the trophy elude them in 1963 at the hands of Pelé ‘s Santos, Boca Juniors last managed to appear on the continental football map. Towards the end of the ten, the Xeneizes reached the finals in three consecutive years. The first was in 1977 in which Boca earned their first victory against defending champions Cruzeiro. [ 31 ] After both teams won their home plate legs 1–0, a playoff at a neutral venue was chosen to break the connect. The playoff equal finished in a tense 0–0 marry and was decided by a penalty gunfight. Boca Juniors won the trophy again in 1978 after thumping Deportivo Cali of Colombia 4–0 in the second peg of the finals. [ 32 ] In the follow year, it looked as though Boca Juniors would besides achieve a triple championship, only to have Olimpia end their dream after a highly volatile moment leg match in Buenos Aires. [ 33 ] As in 1963, Boca Juniors had to watch as the chew the fat team lifted the Copa Libertadores in their dwelling reason and Olimpia became the inaugural ( and, as of 2020, lone ) Paraguayan team to lift the Copa .

Pacific emergence and survive uruguayan wallow : 1980–1989 [edit ]

Nine years after their first wallow, Nacional won their second cup in 1980 after overcoming Internacional. Despite Brazil ‘s potent condition as a football ability in South America, 1981 marked only the fourthly title won by a brazilian club. Flamengo, led by stars such as Zico, Júnior, Leandro, Adílio, Nunes, Cláudio Adão, Tita and Carpegiani, sparkled as the Mengão’s Golden Generation reached the pinnacle of their careers by beating Cobreloa of Chile. [ 34 ] [ 35 ]
After 16 years of near-perennial failure, Peñarol would go on to win the cup for the fourth fourth dimension in 1982 after beating the 1981 finalists in consecutive series. [ 10 ] First, the Manyas disposed of defending champions Flamengo 1–0 in the concluding peer of the second phase at Flamengo ‘s home ground, the celebrated Estádio do Maracanã. In the final, they repeated the feat, beating Cobreloa in a decisive second peg pit 1–0 in Santiago. Grêmio of Porto Alegre made history by defeating Peñarol to become the ace in 1983. [ 36 ] In 1984, Independiente won their one-seventh cup, a read that stands today, after defeating style holders Grêmio in a concluding which included a 1–0 succeed in the first away leg, highlighting Jorge Burruchaga and a seasoned Ricardo Bochini. [ 15 ]
Another team rose from the Pacific, as had Cobreloa. colombian club América reached three consecutive finals in 1985, 1986 and 1987 but like Cobreloa they could not manage to win a unmarried matchless. In 1985, Argentinos Juniors, a modest cabaret from the neighborhood of La Paternal in Buenos Aires, astonished South America by eliminating holders Independiente in La Doble Visera 2–1 during the last critical equal of the irregular polish, to reserve a locate in the final. Argentinos Juniors went on to win an unprecedented deed by beating America de Cali in the play-off couple via a penalty gunfight. [ 37 ] After the frustrations of 1966 and 1976, River Plate reached a third gear concluding in 1986 and was crowned champions for the first time after winning both legs of the final series against America de Cali, 2–1 at the Estadio Pascual Guerrero and 1–0 at Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti. [ 38 ] [ 39 ] Peñarol won the Cup again in 1987 after beating America de Cali 2–1 in the critical playoff ; [ 10 ] it proved to be their death hurrah in the external picture as Uruguayan football, in general, suffered a great worsen at the end of the 1980s. [ 40 ] The Manyas cutthroat rivals, Nacional, besides won one last cup in 1988 before falling from the continental limelight. It was not until 1989 that a Pacific team finally broke the laterality of the established Atlantic powers. Atlético Nacional of Medellín won the final serial, therefore becoming the first team from Colombia to win the tournament. Atletico Nacional faced off against Olimpia losing the first gear branch in Asunción 2–0. Because Estadio Atanasio Girardot, their home stadium, did not have the minimum capacity CONMEBOL required to host a final examination, the second leg was played in Bogota ‘s El Campín with the match ending 2–0 in favor of Atletico Nacional. Having tied the series, Atletico Nacional becomes that class ‘s champions after winning a penalty gunfight that required four rounds of sudden death. [ 41 ] Goalkeeper René Higuita cemented his fabled condition with an outstanding performance as he stopped four of the nine Paraguayan kicks and scored one himself. [ 42 ] The 1989 edition besides had another significant first : it was the first-ever fourth dimension that no club from Argentina, Uruguay, or Brazil managed to reach the final examination. That drift would continue until 1992 .
Having led Olimpia to the 1979 title as coach, Luis Cubilla returned to the club in 1988. With the legendary goalkeeper Ever Hugo Almeida, Gabriel González, Adriano Samaniego, and star Raul Vicente Amarilla, a rejuvenate decano boasted a formidable side that promised a fall to the glory days of the late 1970s. After coming up short in 1989 against Atlético Nacional, Olimpia reached the 1990 Copa Libertadores finals after defeating the defending supporter in a climactic semifinal series decided on penalties. In the finals, Olimpia defeated Barcelona of Ecuador 3–1 in aggregate to win their second title. [ 33 ] Olimpia reached the 1991 Copa Libertadores finals, once again, defeating Atlético Nacional in the semifinals and facing Colo-Colo of Chile in the final. Led by yugoslav coach Mirko Jozić, the Chilean squad beat the defending ace 3–0. The frustration brought Olimpia ‘s second gold era to a near. [ 43 ] In 1992, São Paulo rose from being a bare great in Brazil to become an international powerhouse. Manager Telê Santana turned to the Paulistas’ youth and instilled his style of quick, cheerful, and decisive football. Led by stars such as Zetti, Müller, Raí, Cafu, Palhinha, São Paulo rhythm Newell ‘s Old Boys of Argentina to begin a dynasty. [ 44 ] In 1993 São Paulo successfully defended the title by thumping Universidad Católica of Chile in the finals. [ 44 ] The brazilian side became the first golf club since Boca Juniors in 1978 to win 2 straight Copa Libertadores. Like Boca Juniors, however, they would reach another final in 1994 only to lose the championship to Vélez Sársfield of Argentina in a penalty shoot-out. [ 45 ] With a highly compendious tactical lineup and the goals of the formidable duet Jardel and Paulo Nunes, Grêmio won the coveted trophy again in 1995 after beating an Atlético Nacional led, once again, by the iconic calculate of René Higuita. [ 46 ] Jardel finished the season as the top scorekeeper with 12 goals. The team coached by Luiz Felipe Scolari was led by the defender ( and captain ) Adilson and the adept midfielder Arilson. In the 1996 temper, figures such as Hernán Crespo, Matías Almeyda and Enzo Francescoli helped River Plate secure its second title after defeating América de Cali in a replay of the 1986 final. [ 47 ] The Copa Libertadores stayed on brazilian dirt for the end of the 1990s as Cruzeiro, Vasco da Gama and Palmeiras took the spoils. The cup of 1997 pitted Cruzeiro against Peruvian clubhouse Sporting Cristal. The key breakthrough came in the second leg of the final when Cruzeiro broke the deadlock with just under 15 minutes left in a match attended by over 106,000 spectators in the Mineirão. [ 30 ] Vasco district attorney Gama defeated Barcelona SC with ease to record their first base title in 1998. The decade ended on a high note when Palmeiras and Deportivo Cali, both runner-up in the competition before, vied to become winners for the first time in 1999. The final was a dramatic back-and-forth match that went into penalties. Luiz Felipe Scolari managed to lead even another club to victory as the Verdão won 4–3 in São Paulo. [ 48 ] [ 49 ] This ten proved to be a major turning orient in the history of the contest as the Copa Libertadores went through a bang-up deal of emergence and change. Having long been dominated by teams from Argentina, Brazil began to overshadow their neighbors as their clubs reached eight finals and won six titles in the 1990s. [ 50 ] From 1998 onwards, the Copa Libertadores was sponsored by Toyota and became known as the Copa Toyota Libertadores. [ 51 ] That same year, Mexican clubs, although affiliated to CONCACAF, started taking partially in the rival thanks to quotas obtained from the Pre-Libertadores which pitted Mexican and Venezuelan clubs against each early for two slots in the group stage. [ 2 ] The tournament was expanded to 34 teams and economic incentives were introduced by an agreement between CONMEBOL and Toyota Motor Corporation. [ 51 ] All teams that advanced to the second gear stage of the tournament received $ 25,000 for their engagement. [ 52 ]

decade of resurgences : 2000–2009 [edit ]

During the 2000 Copa Libertadores, Boca Juniors returned to the top of the continent and raised the Copa Libertadores again after 22 years. Led by Carlos Bianchi, the Virrey, along with outstanding players like Mauricio Serna, Jorge Bermúdez, Óscar Córdoba, Juan Roman Riquelme, and Martín Palermo, among others, revitalized the clubhouse to establish it among the world ‘s best. [ 53 ] The Xeneizes started this bequest by defeating defending ace Palmeiras in the final series. [ 54 ] Boca Juniors won the 2001 version after, once again, defeating Palmeiras in the semifinals and Cruz Azul in the final series to successfully defend the trophy. [ 4 ] [ 55 ] Cruz Azul became the first ever Mexican club to reach the concluding and win a final leg after great performances against River Plate and an inhale Rosario Central. Like their predecessors from the deep 1970s however, Boca Juniors would fall curtly of winning three consecutive titles. As with Juan Carlos Lorenzo ‘s men, the Xeneizes became frustrated as they were eliminated by Olimpia, this clock time during the quarterfinals. Led by World Cup achiever -turned coach Nery Pumpido, Olimpia would overcome Grêmio ( after some controversy ) and surprise finalists São Caetano. [ 33 ] Despite this prevail, Olimpia did not create the winning mystique of its by aureate generations and bowed out in the round of 16 the succeed season, after being routed by Grêmio 6–2, avenging their controversial loss from the year ahead .
tri-campeão after defeating Atlético Paranaense in São Paulo becameafter defeating Atlético Paranaense in 2005 The 2003 tournament became an especial show as many teams such as América de Cali, River Plate, Grêmio, Cobreloa, and Racing, among others, brought their best sides in generations and unexpected teams such as Independiente Medellín and Paysandu became revelations in what was, arguably, the best Copa Libertadores in history. [ 56 ] The biggest news of the contest was former champion Santos. Qualifying to the tournament as brazilian champion, coached by Emerson Leão and containing improbable figures such as Renato, Alex, Léo, Ricardo Oliveira, Diego, Robinho, and Elano, the Santásticos became a symbol of entertaining and cheerful football that resembled Pelé ‘s genesis of the 1960s. Boca Juniors once again establish endowment in their ranks to fill the opening left by the identical successful group of 2000–2001 ( with upcoming stars Rolando Schiavi, Roberto Abbondanzieri and Carlos Tevez ). Boca Juniors and Santos would finally meet in a replay of the 1963 final ; Boca avenged the 1963 loss by defeating Santos in both legs of the final examination. [ 57 ] [ 58 ] Carlos Bianchi won the Cup for a fourth clock time and became the most successful director in the rival ‘s history and Boca Juniors hailed themselves pentacampeones. Boca reached their fourthly final in five tournaments in 2004 but was beaten by surprise-outfit Once Caldas of Colombia, ending Boca ‘s ambition genesis. [ 57 ] Once Caldas, employing a conservative and defensive manner of football, became the second colombian side to win the rival .
Olimpia squad that won the 2002 edition Ruing their semifinal passing in 2004, São Paulo made an great rejoinder in 2005 to contest the final examination with Atlético Paranaense. This became the first ever Copa Libertadores finals to feature two teams from the same football association ; [ 59 ] The Tricolor won their third crown after thrashing Atlético Paranaense in the final branch. [ 44 ] The 2006 final was besides an all-Brazilian affair, with defending champions São Paulo lining up against Internacional. Led by team captain Fernandão, the Colorados rhythm São Paulo 2–1 at Estádio do Morumbi and held the defend champions at a 2–2 draw at base in Porto Alegre as Internacional won their inaugural ever title. [ 60 ] [ 61 ] Internacional ‘s arch-rivals, Grêmio, surprised many by reaching the 2007 final examination with a relatively young squad. however, it was not to be as Boca Juniors, reinforced by aging but still-capable players, came away with the trophy to win their sixth style. [ 62 ] [ 63 ]
In 2008 the tournament severed its relationship with Toyota. Grupo Santander, one of the largest banks in the world, became the patronize of the Copa Libertadores, and thus the official appoint changed to Copa Santander Libertadores. [ 51 ] In that season, LDU Quito became the beginning team from Ecuador to win the Copa Libertadores after defeating Fluminense 3–1 on penalties. Goalkeeper José Francisco Cevallos played a key character, saving three penalties in the final gunfight in what is considered one of the best final examination series in the competition ‘s history. [ 64 ] [ 65 ] It was besides the highest-scoring concluding in the history of the tournament. The biggest revival of the decade happened in the fiftieth edition of the Copa Libertadores and it was won by a early might that has reinvented itself. Estudiantes de La Plata, led by Juan Sebastián Verón, won their fourth title 39 hanker years after the successful coevals of the 1960s ( led by Juan Sebastián ‘s father, Juan Ramón ). The pincharatas managed to emulate their predecessors by defeating Cruzeiro 2–1 on the return leg in Belo Horizonte. [ 50 ] [ 66 ]

2010s : Final in Madrid, single-game finals [edit ]

In 2010, a spell of the contest lone being won by brazilian clubs for four years began with Internacional defeating Guadalajara. [ 67 ] In 2011, Santos won their third base Copa, overcoming Peñarol by 2–1 in the concluding. [ 68 ] In 2012, Corinthians won the tournament undefeated, beating Boca Juniors 2–0 in the final examination. It was Corinthians ‘ first championship. [ 69 ] In 2013, Atlético Mineiro needed to beat Olimpia 2–0 in the irregular leg to take the match to penalties and did so ; goalkeeper Victor helped secure their first title. [ 70 ] The brazilian spell ended with San Lorenzo ‘s inaugural entitle, beating Nacional of Paraguay in the finals. Another Argentine team, River Plate, won its third title in 2015. But Atletico Nacional stopped this raw drift, by beating Ecuador ‘s Independiente del Valle 2–1 on aggregate. Grêmio won the contest for the third base clock in its history in 2017 after defeating CA Lanús in the final examination, with a 3–1 aggregate. In 2018, River Plate went on to beat their archrivals Boca Juniors 3–1 in a return peg at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, for the very foremost time in history due to the miss of security in Buenos Aires. On 23 November 2019, Flamengo won the 2019 Libertadores after beating the reigning champions River Plate 2–1 with two late goals by Gabriel Barbosa. Palmeiras lifted its moment trophy on 30 January 2021, as it defeated São Paulo state rivals Santos 1–0. Breno Lopes scored the winner in arrest clock time in the second half, soon after Santos ‘ coach was sent off due to time-wasting. Palmeiras won their third championship in 27 November 2021, becoming the first team to win two Libertadores in the like year, after defeating Flamengo 2–1 after supernumerary time, with a late winner from Deyverson .

format [edit ]

qualification [edit ]

Most teams qualify for the Copa Libertadores by winning half-year tournaments called the Apertura and Clausura tournaments or by finishing among the top teams in their championship. [ 3 ] The countries that use this format are Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. [ 3 ] Peru and Ecuador have developed new formats for reservation to the Copa Libertadores involving respective stages. [ 3 ] Argentina, Brazil and Chile are the merely South American leagues to use a european league format alternatively of the Apertura and Clausura format. [ 3 ] however, one mooring for the Copa Libertadores can be won by winning the domestic cups in these countries. [ 3 ] Peru, Uruguay and Mexico once used a moment tournament to decide reservation for the Libertadores ( the “ Liguilla Pre-Libertadores ” between 1992 and 1997, the “ Liguilla Pre-Libertadores de América ” from 1974 to 2009, and the InterLiga from 2004 to 2010, respectively ). [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Argentina used an analogous method lone once in 1992. Since 2011, the winner of the Copa Sudamericana has qualified mechanically for the following Copa Libertadores. [ 3 ] [ 71 ] For the 2019 edition, the unlike stages of the competition were contested by the following teams : [ 3 ]

Country
First Stage
Second Stage
Group Stage

Brazil

2
5

Argentina

1
5

Chile

2
2

Colombia

2
2

Bolivia
1
1
2

Ecuador
1
1
2

Paraguay
1
1
2

Peru
1
1
2

Uruguay
1
1
2

Venezuela
1
1
2

The winners of the previous season ‘s Copa Libertadores are given an extra entry if they do not qualify for the tournament through their domestic performance ; however, if the championship holders qualify for the tournament through their domestic operation, an extra entrance is granted to the adjacent eligible team, “ supplant ” the titleholder .

Rules [edit ]

The Copa Libertadores logo is shown on the center of the pitch before every crippled in the contest. Unlike most other competitions around the universe, the Copa Libertadores historically did not use supernumerary time, or away goals. [ 3 ] From 1960 to 1987, two-legged ties were decided on points ( teams would be awarded 2 points for a win, 1 distributor point for a draw and 0 points for a loss ), without considering goal differences. If both teams were flush on points after two legs, a third meet would be played at a achromatic venue. Goal remainder would alone come into play if the third match was drawn. If the third gear match did not produce an immediate achiever, a punishment gunfight was used to determine a achiever. [ 3 ] From 1988 onwards, two-legged ties were decided on points, followed by finish dispute, with an immediate penalty gunfight if the tie was level on sum after full-time in the second leg. [ 3 ] Starting with the 2005 season, CONMEBOL began to use the away goals convention. [ 3 ] In 2008, the finals became an exception to the away goals rule and employed supernumerary time. [ 3 ] From 1995 onwards, the “ Three points for a gain “ standard, a system adopted by FIFA in 1995 that places extra value on wins, was adopted in CONMEBOL, with teams immediately earning 3 points for a winnings, 1 indicate for a drawing card and 0 points for a loss .

tournament [edit ]

The current tournament features 47 clubs competing over a six- to eight-month period. There are three stages : the first, the second and the smasher stage. The beginning phase involves 12 clubs in a serial of two-legged smasher ties. [ 3 ] The six survivors join 26 clubs in the moment stage, in which they are divided into eight groups of four. [ 3 ] The teams in each group play in a double round-robin format, with each team play home and away games against every other team in their group. [ 3 ] The top two teams from each group are then drawn into the knockout stage, which consists of two-legged hard ties. [ 3 ] From that point, the contest proceeds with two-legged hard ties to quarterfinals, semifinals, and the finals. [ 3 ] Between 1960 and 1987 the previous winners did not enter the competition until the semifinal stage, making it much easier to retain the cup. [ 3 ]

between 1960 and 2004, the winner of the tournament participated in the now-defunct Intercontinental Cup or ( after 1980 ) Toyota Cup, a football contest endorsed by UEFA and CONMEBOL, contested against the winners of the european Cup ( since renamed the UEFA Champions League ) [ 3 ] Since 2004, the winner has played in the Club World Cup, an international contest contested by the champion clubs from all six continental confederations. It is organized by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association ( FIFA ), the sport ‘s ball-shaped govern body. Because Europe and South America are considered the strongest centers of the sport, the champions of those continents enter the tournament at the semifinal stage. [ 3 ] The gain team besides qualifies to play in the Recopa Sudamericana, a two-legged final serial against the winners of the Copa Sudamericana. [ 3 ]

Prizes [edit ]

trophy [edit ]

The tournament shares its name with the trophy, besides called the Copa Libertadores or plainly la Copa, which is awarded to the Copa Libertadores winner. It was designed by goldsmith Alberto de Gasperi, an Italian-born immigrant to Peru, in Camusso Jewelry in Lima at the behest of CONMEBOL. [ 72 ] The acme of the laurel is made of sterling silver, except for the football player at the exceed ( which is made of tan with a silver medal application ). [ 73 ] The pedestal, which contains badges from every winner of the competition, is made of hardwood plywood. The badges show the temper, the full name of the fetching club, and the city and nation from which the champions hail. To the left of that information is the cabaret logo. Any clubhouse which wins three consecutive tournaments has the right to keep the trophy. today, the stream trophy is the third base in the history of the rival. Two clubs have kept the actual trophy after three consecutive wins : [ 74 ]

Estudiantes after their third consecutive win in 1970. They won a fourth title in 2009.
Independiente after their third consecutive win, and fifth overall, in 1974. They have since won two more titles, in 1975 and 1984.

Prize money [edit ]

As of 2019, clubs in the Copa Libertadores receive US $ 500,000 for advancing into the second stage and US $ 1,000,000 per home match in the group phase. That sum is derived from television rights and stadium advertise. The requital per home couple increases to US $ 1,050,000 in the round of 16. The loot money then increases as each quarterfinalist receives US $ 1,200,000, US $ 1,750,000 is given to each semifinalist, US $ 6,000,000 is awarded to the runner-up, and the winner earns US $ 12,000,000. [ 75 ]

Eliminated at the first stage: US$350,000
Eliminated at the second stage: US$500,000
Eliminated at the third stage: US$550,000
Group stage: US$3,000,000
Round of 16: US$1,050,000
Quarter-finals: US$1,200,000
Semi-finals: US$1,750,000
Runners-up: US$6,000,000
Champions: US$12,000,000

cultural impact [edit ]

Since its creation, the Copa Libertadores has been part of the culture of South America. The Copa Libertadores occupies an significant space in south american english culture. The folklore, ostentation, and organization of many competitions around the world owe its aspects to the Libertadores .

The “ Sueño Libertador ” [edit ]

The Sueño Libertador ( “ Liberator Dream “ ) is a promotional phrase used by sports journalism in the context of winning or attempting to win the Copa Libertadores. [ 76 ] Thus, when a team gets eliminated from the rival, it is said that the team has awakened from the liberator dream. The project normally starts after the baseball club wins its national league ( which grants them the right to compete in the follow year ‘s Copa Libertadores ). It is park for clubs to spend large sums of money to win the Copa Libertadores. In 1998 for exemplar, Vasco da Gama spent $ 10 million to win the contest, and in 1998, Palmeiras, managed by Luiz Felipe Scolari, brought Júnior Baiano among other players, winning the 1999 Copa Libertadores. The tournament is highly see among its participants. In 2010, players from Guadalajara stated that they would rather play in the Copa Libertadores final examination than appear in a friendly against Spain, then reigning populace champions, [ 77 ] and dispute their national league. [ 78 ] similarly, after their wallow in the 2010 Copa do Brasil, several Santos players made it known that they wished to stay at the club and participate in the 2011 Copa Libertadores, despite having multimillion-dollar contracts lined up for them at clubs participating in the UEFA Champions League, such as Chelsea of England and Lyon of France. [ 79 ] Former Boca Juniors goalkeeper Óscar Córdoba has stated that the Copa Libertadores was the most esteemed trophy he won in his career ( above the Argentine league, Intercontinental Cup, etc. ) [ 80 ]

‘La Copa se mira y no selenium toca ‘ [edit ]

Since its origin in 1960, the Copa Libertadores had predominantly been won by clubs from nations with an Atlantic slide : Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. Olimpia of Paraguay became the first team outside of those nations to win the Copa Libertadores when they triumphed in 1979. The beginning club from a country with a Pacific slide to reach a final examination was Universitario of Lima, Peru, who lost in 1972 against Independiente of Argentina. [ 15 ] The follow year, Independiente defeated Colo-Colo of Chile, another Pacific team, creating the myth that the trophy would never go to the west, giving give birth to the order, “ La Copa se mira y no southeast toca ” ( spanish : The Cup is to be seen, not to be touched ). [ 15 ] Unión Española became the third Pacific team to reach the final examination in 1975, although they besides lost to Independiente. [ 15 ] Atletico Nacional of Medellín, Colombia, won the Copa Libertadores in 1989, becoming the first state with a Pacific coastline to win the tournament. [ 41 ] In 1990 and 1998 Barcelona Sporting Club, of Ecuador besides made it to the concluding but lost both finals to Olimpia and CR Vasco district attorney Gama respectively. early clubs from nations with Pacific coastlines to have won the rival are Colo-Colo of Chile in 1991, Once Caldas of Colombia in 2004, and LDU Quito of Ecuador in 2008. Atletico Nacional of Colombia earned their moment title in 2016. particular parody was used from argentinian teams to Chilean teams for never having obtained the Copa Libertadores, so after Colo-Colo ‘s triumph in 1991 a new phrase saying “ la copa se mira y se toca ” ( spanish : The Cup is seen and touched ) was implemented in Chile .

ambassador [edit ]

Pelé, regarded by many football historians, early players and fans to be the best football player in the game ‘s history, [ 81 ] is the ambassador of the Copa Libertadores, having won the competition with Santos twice. [ 82 ] In 1999, he was voted as the Football Player of the Century by the IFFHS International Federation of Football History and Statistics. In the like year, French weekly magazine France-Football consulted their former “ Ballon D’Or ” winners to elect the Football Player of the Century. Pelé came in first place. [ 83 ] In 1999 the International Olympic Committee named Pelé the “ Athlete of the Century ”. [ 84 ]

Media coverage [edit ]

The tournament attracts television audiences beyond South America, Mexico, and Spain. Matches are broadcast in over 135 countries, with comment in more than 30 languages, and frankincense the Copa is frequently considered one of the most watch sports events on television ; [ 85 ] Fox Sports, for case, reaches more than 25 million households in the Americas. [ 86 ] Movistar+ broadcasts live Copa Libertadores matches in Spain. [ 87 ] As of January 19, 2019 beIN Sports has obtained the circulate rights for Australia, Canada, MENA, New Zealand, and the United States beginning in 2019 through 2022. [ 88 ]
From 1997 to 2017, the competition had a single main patron for naming rights. The first major patron was Toyota, who signed a ten-year contract with CONMEBOL in 1997. [ 89 ] The second major sponsor was Banco Santander, who signed a five-year contract with CONMEBOL in 2008. [ 51 ] The one-third major presenter was Bridgestone, who signed a sponsorship share for naming rights for a period of five years from 2013 edition to 2017. [ 90 ]

Match musket ball [edit ]

Nike supplies the official match ball since 2003, as they do for all other CONMEBOL competitions. [ 91 ] [ 92 ] The current catch ball for the Copa Libertadores is the Merlin Libertadores. [ 91 ] It is one of the many balls produced by the american sports equipment manufacturer for CONMEBOL, replacing the Ordem 4 ball used during 2017 .

Records and statistics [edit ]

The data downstairs does not include the 1948 South american Championship of Champions, as it is not listed by Conmebol either as a Copa Libertadores edition or as an official contest. however, at least in the years 1996/1997, Conmebol entitled adequate condition to both Copa Libertadores and the 1948 tournament, in that the 1948 champion cabaret ( CR Vasco da Gama ) was allowed to participate in Supercopa Libertadores, a Conmebol official rival that allowed participation for former Libertadores champions entirely ( for case, not admitting engagement for champions of other Conmebol official competitions, such as Copa CONMEBOL ) .

Performances by club [edit ]

Bolivia and Venezuela are the only countries never to reach a final examination. Beyond them, Peru ( and Mexico in their invitational time period ) are the lone ones never to win a final .

Performances by state [edit ]

Performances in finals by nation

Nation

Titles

Runners-up

Total

Argentina
25

Brazil
21

Uruguay
8

Colombia
3

Paraguay
3

Chile
1

Ecuador
1

Mexico
0

Peru
0

Most goals [edit ]

Most appearances [edit ]

See besides [edit ]

References [edit ]

further read [edit ]

Goldblatt, David Goldblatt (2008). The Ball Is Round: A Global History of Soccer. Penguin Group. ISBN 978-1-59448-296-0.
Jozsa, Frank (2009). Global Sports: Cultures, Markets and Organizations. World Scientific. ISBN 978-981-283-569-7.
Barraza, Jorge (1990). Copa Libertadores de América, 30 años (in Spanish). Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol.
Napoleão, Antonio Carlos (1999). O Brasil na Taça Libertadores da América (in Portuguese). Mauad Editora Ltda. ISBN 85-7478-001-4.

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