The oldest National Teams tournament in the World, the Copa America was created in 1916, when Argentina decided to organize a soccer tournament to celebrate the first centennial of its independence. With the participation of Brazil, Chile and Uruguay the event attracted the spotlights of that time being decisive for the foundation of the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) in the same period. In this way then, the first National Teams competition was created.

Uruguay, one of the greatest Teams of the beginning of last century, ruined the Argentinean party and conquered the first South American title. The tournament´s success made Conmebol schedule the competition for the following years, in each of the four participating countries of the first event. This way, in 1917, the tournament was played again. Uruguay, that once again won the title, also won the Copa America Trophy, created by Conmebol that year.

Since then, the competition happened another 38 times, and now reaches its 41st edition. Argentina and Uruguay, with 14 titles each, are the greatest winners of the main Tournament in the Americas. Brazil, with 6 triumphs, Paraguay and Peru with 2 trophies each, and Bolivia and Colombia, with one title each are the other winners of Copa America.

In 1975, the competition – known as South American National Teams´ Competition – had its name officially changed to Copa America. In the same year, the tournament stopped being played with only one host. Surprisingly, Peru played the final against Colombia, and conquered the Copa for the first time. In the two following editions, the competition system remained the same and Paraguay and Uruguay win the tournament.

In 1987, the Copa América adopted a single host system, and would be played every two years. In Argentina, Uruguay beat Chile and retains the previously won championship. In the following edition, in 1989, the host, Brazil, broke a non-winning streak of 40 years, and won the Copa America. Since then, Conmebol decided that the tournament would be played in rotating venues, in each of the ten affiliated countries.

Since 1993, the Copa América has been receiving two invitees per edition, looking to take the tournament to the whole Latin America. Mexico and USA, from Concacaf, joined the tournament and already in their first participation, got good results. Mexico, with a nice campaign reached the finals, but ended up being beaten by the strong Argentinean team, twice champion by then. In the following years Japan, Honduras and Costa Rica were some of Conmebol´s invitees.

In 2004, in Peru, the tournament reaches its 41st edition, with the presence of 12 countries (ten in South America plus Mexico and Costa Rica). Programmed to be played between the 6th and 25th of July, Copa America will be this year´s main event, side by side with the Eurocup.

Champions

Year Venue Champion Second

1916* Argentina Uruguay Argentina
1917 Uruguay Uruguay Argentina
1919 Brazil Brazil Uruguay
1920 Chile Uruguay Argentina
1921 Argentina Argentina Brazil
1922 Brazil Brazil Paraguay
1923 Uruguay Uruguay Argentina
1924 Uruguay Uruguay Argentina
1925 Argentina Argentina Brazil
1926 Chile Uruguay Argentina
1927 Peru Argentina Uruguay
1929 Argentina Argentina Paraguay
1935* Peru Uruguay Argentina
1937 Argentina Argentina Brazil
1939 Peru Peru Uruguay
1941* Chile Argentina Uruguay
1942 Uruguay Uruguay Argentina
1945* Chile Argentina Brazil
1946* Argentina Argentina Brazil
1947 Ecuador Argentina Paraguay
1949 Brazil Brazil Paraguay
1953 Peru Paraguay Brazil
1955 Chile Argentina Chile
1956* Uruguay Uruguay Chile
1957 Peru Argentina Brazil
1959 Argentina Argentina Brazil
1959* Ecuador Uruguay Argentina
1963 Bolivia Bolivia Paraguay
1967 Uruguay Uruguay Argentina
1975 ** no fixed venue Peru Colombia
1979 no fixed venue Paraguay Chile
1983 no fixed venue Uruguay Brazil
1987 Argentina Uruguay Chile
1989 Brazil Brazil Uruguay
1991 Chile Argentina Brazil
1993 Ecuador Argentina México
1995 Uruguay Uruguay Brazil
1997 Bolivia Brazil Bolivia
1999 Paraguay Brazil Uruguay
2001 Colombia Colombia México
2004 Peru Brazil Argentina

List of Champions

Country Titles

Argentina, Uruguay 14
Brazil 7
Paraguay, Peru 2
Bolivia, Colombia 1

* In these South American tournaments, labelled "Extra".

** In 1975 the South South American Championship change
the name to Copa America

Topscorers

Year Topscorer(s) Goals

1916... Isabelino Gradín (Uruguay) 3
1917... Angel Romano (Uruguay) 3
1919... Friedenreich (Brazil) Neco (Brazil) 4
1920... Angel Romano (Uruguay) José Pérez (Uruguay) 3
1921... Julio Libonatti (Argentina) 3
1922... Juan Francia (Argentina) 4
1923... Aguirre (Argentina) Petrone (Uruguay) 4
1924... Pedro Petrone (Uruguay) 4
1925... Manuel Seoane (Argentina) 6
1926... David Arellano (Chile) 7
1927... Roberto Figueroa (Uruguay) 4
1929... Aurelio González (Paraguay) 5
1935... Masantonio (Argentina) 4
1937... Zozaya (Argentina) Toro (Chile) Varela (Uruguay) 5
1939... Teodoro Fernández (Peru) 7
1941... Juan Marvezzi (Argentina) 5
1942... José Moreno (Argentina) Masantonio (Argentina) 7
1945... Méndez (Argentina) Heleno de Freitas (Brazil) 6
1946... José María Medina (Uruguay) 7
1947... Nicolás Falero (Uruguay) 7
1949... Jair Rosa Pinto (Brazil) 9
1953... Francisco Molina (Chile) 8
1955... Rodolfo Micheli (Argentina) 8
1956... Enrique Hormazábal (Chile) 4
1957... Maschio (Argentina) Ambrois (Uruguay) 9
1959... Pelé (Brazil) 8
1959... Sanfilippo (Argentina) 5
1963... Carlos Raffo (Ecuador) 6
1967... Luis Artime (Argentina) Mora (Paraguay) 5
1975... Luque (Argentina) Ernesto Díaz (Colombia) 4
1979... Jorge Peredo (Chile) Eugenio Morel (Paraguay) 4
1983... Burruchaga (Argentina) Roberto (Brazil) Aguilera (Uruguay) 3
1987... Arnoldo Iguarán (Colombia) 4
1989... Bebeto (Brazil) 6
1991... Batistuta (Argentina) 6
1993... Dolgetta (Venezuela) 4
1995... Batistuta (Argentina) Luis García (México) 4
1997... Ronaldo (Brazil) 7
1999... Rivaldo (Brazil) Ronaldo (Brazil) 5
2001... Aristizábal (Colombia) 6
2004... Adriano (Brazil) 7

All Time Goalscorers

17 Norberto "Tucho" Méndez (Argentina)
17 Thomaz Soares da Silva "Zizinho" (Brazil)

15 Teodoro "Lolo" Fernández (Peru)
15 Severino Varela (Uruguay)

13 Ademir Marques de Menezes (Brazil)
13 Gabriel Omar Batistuta (Argentina)
13 Jair Rosa Pinto (Brazil)
13 José Manuel Moreno (Argentina)
13 Héctor Scarone (Uruguay)

12 Roberto Porta (Uruguay)
12 Angel Romano (Uruguay)

11 Herminio Masantonio (Argentina)
11 Víctor Agustín Ugarte (Bolivia)

I can't wait

whens first group game

Me either, mix of excitement and trepidation.