 The Copa Libertadores trophy won by Brazilian club Palmeiras in 2020 | |
| Organizing body | CONMEBOL |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1960 |
| Region | South America |
| Number of teams | 38 (first round) 2 (finalists) |
| Qualifier for | FIFA Club World Cup |
| Current champion(s) |  Fluminense(1st title) |
| Most successful team(s) |  Independiente(7 titles) |
 2023 Copa Libertadores | |
The Copa Libertadores is a seasonal association football competition that was established in 1960. It begins in mid-January and ends with the final in November of the same year. The Copa Libertadores is open to the league champions of CONMEBOL member associations; clubs finishing from second to fourth position in the stronger leagues of the region, such as the Brazilian league, are also included. Originally, only the champions of their respective national league could participate in the competition. However, in 1966 this was changed to allow the runners-up of the leagues to compete.[1] Until 2018, the final was contested over two legs, one at each participating club's stadium. From 2019, the format was changed, with the final being a single game played at a predetermined venue.[2]
The data below does not include the 1948 South American Championship of Champions, as it is not listed by CONMEBOL either as a Libertadores edition or an official competition. It must be pointed out, however, that at least in the years 1996 and 1997, CONMEBOL entitled equal status to both the Copa Libertadores and the 1948 tournament, in that the 1948 champions (Vasco da Gama) were allowed to participate in the Supercopa Libertadores, a CONMEBOL official competition that allowed participation for former Libertadores champions only (for example, not admitting participation for champions of other CONMEBOL official competitions, such as the Copa CONMEBOL).
Independiente hold the record for the most victories, with seven wins since the competition's inception. They have also won the competition the most times consecutively, winning four in a row from 1972 to 1975. Boca Juniors are second with six wins; they won their last title in 2007. Peñarol are third with five wins, their most recent of which was in 1987. Boca Juniors have lost the most finals, having lost on six occasions.[3] Overall, 26 clubs have won the competition since its inception in 1960. Clubs from Argentina have won the most Copas Libertadores, with 25 titles among them. Brazilian clubs are second with 23 victories, and Uruguayan clubs are third with 8.[1]
- ^ a b "Copa Libertadores de América". RSSSF. 3 July 2008. Archived from the original on 24 May 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
- ^ "Copa Libertadores final to be played in single match in 2019". USA Today. 23 February 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Copa Libertadores Trivia". RSSSF. 11 September 2004. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2009.