The Copa Libertadores de América ("Liberators of the Americas Cup") is an international football cup competition played annually by the top clubs of South America. In recent years, top clubs from Mexico have also competed.
Qualification
The competition is organized and run annually in a similar manner to the UEFA Champions League in Europe. The Copa Libertadores has a preliminary round in which a number of clubs, currently 12, are paired in a series of two-legged knockout ties. The six survivors join the remaining clubs in the first round, in which they are divided into groups of four. The first-round groups play in a league system, with each team playing home-and-home against each other team. The top two teams from each group are then drawn in the second round, which consists of a two-legged knockout tie. From that point, the competition proceeds with two-legged knockout ties to quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final. Between 1960 and 1979 the previous winners did not enter the competition until the semi-final stage, making it much easier to retain the cup.
In its early years, only the national champions of the major nations took part, but the vice-champions were allowed in the 1970s. The competition was later extended to 24, 32, 36, and now 38 teams. The 2005 edition will have the competitors distributed this way:
* The previous year's champion
* 5 from Argentina
* 5 from Brazil
* 3 from Bolivia
* 3 from Chile
* 3 from Colombia
* 3 from Ecuador
* 3 from Mexico (up from 2 in 2004)
* 3 from Paraguay
* 3 from Peru
* 3 from Uruguay
* 3 from Venezuela
The lowest-ranked team from each country, plus the second lowest-ranked team from the nation of the previous year's champion, will enter the preliminary round, with the winners joining the other 26 teams in the main draw.
Rules
Note that unlike European club competitions, the Copa Libertadores historically did not use extra time or away goals to decide a tie that was level on aggregate. From 1960 to 1987, two-legged ties were decided on points, without taking goal difference into consideration. If both teams were level on points after two legs, a third match would be played at a neutral site. Goal difference would only come into play if the third match was drawn. If the third match did not produce an immediate winner, either by a clear win or by goal difference, a penalty shootout was used to determine a winner. From 1988 through 2004, ties were decided on aggregate goals, with an immediate penalty shootout if the tie was level on aggregate after full time of the second leg. Several times, the event would have had a different champion if it followed European rules. For example, the 2004 champions, Colombian club Once Caldas, would have exited the competition in the second round if the away goals rule had been used, and would also have lost the final on away goals.
For the 2005 event, CONMEBOL finally began to use the away goals rule, but still does not employ extra time. Two ties in the preliminary round were decided on away goals.
History
The first cup was competed for in 1960 and was won by Club Atlético Peñarol of Uruguay. As of 2004, 20 different teams have won the cup. The most successful club has been the Argentinian side Club Atlético Independiente, winners seven times including four in a row from 1972 to 1975.
Brazilians complain that especially in the early years the referees were often biased against the Brazilian teams and the rules were often obscure or unfair. Argentine answer to this remarking that the Brazilian teams were often uninterested in playing abroad. However, it is remarkable that Argentina and Uruguay are so superior to Brazil in Olympic and regional competitions such as the Copa América and the Copa Libertadores, while they are clearly surpassed in the most important event, the FIFA World Cup.
Over the years the competition has kept alive a healthy sport rivalry between the competing countries, especially between Brazil and Argentina, Argentina and Uruguay, Uruguay and Brazil, and Bolivia and Chile. Unfortunately episodes of violence are not rare and the pressure for players on the field is tremendous.
Since 1998, the Copa Libertadores is sponsored by the Toyota Motor Corporation, and that is why since then the name Copa Toyota Libertadores is also used.
COPA LIBERTADORES CHAMPIONS
YEAR CHAMPION RUNNERS-UP
1960 PEÑAROL (Uruguay) Olimpia (Paraguay) (1-0 1-1)
1961 PEÑAROL (Uruguay) Palmeiras (Brazil) (1-0 1-1)
1962 SANTOS (Brazil) Peñarol (Uruguay) (2-1 2-3 3-0)
1963 SANTOS (Brazil) Boca Juniors (Argentina) (3-2 2-1)
1964 INDEPENDIENTE (Argentina) Nacional (Uruguay) (0-0 1-0)
1965 INDEPENDIENTE (Argentina) Peñarol (Uruguay) (1-0 1-3 4-1)
1966 PEÑAROL (Uruguay) River Plate (Argentina) (2-0 2-3 4-2)
1967 RACING CLUB (Argentina) Nacional (Uruguay) (0-0 0-0 1-0)
1968 ESTUDIANTES (Argentina) Palmeiras (Brazil) (2-1 1-3 2-0)
1969 ESTUDIANTES (Argentina) Nacional (Uruguay) (1-0 2-1)
1970 ESTUDIANTES (Argentina) Peñarol (Uruguay) (1-0 0-0)
1971 NACIONAL (Uruguay) Estudiantes (Argentina) (1-0 0-1 2-0)
1972 INDEPENDIENTE (Argentina) Universitario (Peru) (0-0 2-1)
1973 INDEPENDIENTE (Argentina) Colo Colo (Chile) (1-1 0-0 2-1)
1974 INDEPENDIENTE (Argentina) São Paulo (Brazil) (1-2 2-0 1-0)
1975 INDEPENDIENTE (Argentina) Union Española (Chile) (0-1 3-1 2-0)
1976 CRUZEIRO (Brazil) River Plate (Argentina) (4-1 1-2 3-2)
1977 BOCA JUNIORS (Argentina) Cruzeiro (Brazil) (1-0 0-1 0-0 5-4 pk)
1978 BOCA JUNIORS (Argentina) Deportivo Cali (Colombia) (0-0 4-0)
1979 OLIMPIA (Paraguay) Boca Juniors (Argentina) (2-0 0-0)
1980 NACIONAL (Uruguay) Internacional (Brazil) (0-0 1-0)
1981 FLAMENGO (Brazil) Cobreloa (Chile) (2-1 0-1 2-0)
1982 PEÑAROL (Uruguay) Cobreloa (Chile) (0-0 0-1)
1983 GREMIO (Brazil) Peñarol (Uruguay) (1-1 3-0)
1984 INDEPENDIENTE (Argentina) Gremio (Brazil) (1-0 0-0)
1985 ARGENTINOS JUNIORS (Argentina) América de Cali (Colombia) (1-0 0-1 1-1 5-4 pk)
1986 RIVER PLATE (Argentina) América de Cali (Colombia) (2-1 1-0)
1987 PEÑAROL (Uruguay) América de Cali (Colombia) (0-2 2-1 1-0)
1988 NACIONAL (Uruguay) Newell's Old Boys (Argentina) (0-1 3-0)
1989 ATLETICO NACIONAL (Colombia) Olimpia (Paraguay) (0-2 2-0 5-4 pk)
1990 OLIMPIA (Paraguay) Barcelona (Ecuador) (2-0 1-1)
1991 COLO COLO (Chile) Olimpia (Paraguay) (0-0 3-0)
1992 SÃO PAULO (Brazil) Newell's Old Boys (Argentina) (0-1 1-0 3-2 pk)
1993 SÃO PAULO (Brazil) Universidad Católica (Chile) (5-1 0-2)
1994 VELEZ SARSFIELD (Argentina) São Paulo (Brazil) (1-0 0-1 5-4 pk)
1995 GREMIO (Brazil) Atlético Nacional (Colombia) (3-1 1-1)
1996 RIVER PLATE (Argentina) América de Cali (Colombia) (0-1 2-0)
1997 CRUZEIRO (Brazil) Sporting Cristal (Perú) (0-0 1-0)
1998 VASCO DA GAMA (Brazil) Barcelona (Ecuador) (2-0 2-1)
1999 PALMEIRAS (Brazil) Deportivo Cali (Colombia) (0-1 2-1 4-3 pk)
2000 BOCA JUNIORS (Argentina) Palmeiras (Brazil) (2-2 0-0 4-2 pk)
2001 BOCA JUNIORS (Argentina) Cruz Azul (Mexico) (1-0 0-1 3-1 pk)
2002 OLIMPIA (Paraguay) Sao Caetano (Brazil) (0-1 2-1 4-2 pk)
2003 BOCA JUNIORS (Argentina) Santos (Brazil) (2-0 3-1)
2004 ONCE CALDAS (Colombia) Boca Juniors (Argentina) (0-0 1-1 2-0 pk)
2005 SÃO PAULO (Brazil) Atletico Paranaense (Brazil) (1-1 4-0)
2006 INTERNACIONAL (Brazil) São Paulo (Brazil) (1-2 2-2)
LIBERTADORES TOP SCORERS
1960 ALBERTO SPENCER Ecuador Peñarol (URU) 7
1961 OSVALDO PANZUTTO Argentina Indep. Santa Fé (COL) 4
1962 COUTINHO Brazil Santos (BRA) 6
ENRIQUE RAYMONDI Ecuador Emelec (ECU) 6
ALBERTO SPENCER Ecuador Peñarol (URU) 6
1963 JOSÉ SANFILIPPO Argentina Boca Juniors (ARG) 7
1964 MARIO RODRÍGUEZ Argentina Independiente (ARG) 6
1965 PELÉ Brazil Santos (BRA) 8
1966 DANIEL ONEGA Argentina River Plate (ARG) 17
1967 NORBERTO RAFFO Argentina Rácing Club (ARG) 13
1968 TUPAOZINHO Brazil Palmeiras (BRA) 11
1969 ALBERTO FERRERO Uruguay Santiago Wanderers (CHI) 8
1970 FRANCISCO BERTOCCHI Uruguay LDU Quito (ECU) 9
1971 RAÚL CASTRONOVO Argentina Peñarol (URU) 10
LUIS ARTIME Argentina Nacional (URU) 10
1972 TONINHO Brazil São Paulo (BRA) 6
TEÓFILO CUBILLAS Perú Alianza Lima (PER) 6
OSWALDO RAMIREZ Perú Universitario (PER) 6
PERCY ROJAS Perú Universitario (PER) 6
1973 CARLOS CASZELY Chile Colo Colo (CHI) 9
1974 TERTO Brazil São Paulo (BRA) 7
FERNANDO MORENA Uruguay Peñarol (URU) 7
PEDRO VIRGILIO ROCHA Uruguay São Paulo (BRA) 7
1975 OSWALDO RAMÍREZ Perú Universitario (PER) 8
FERNANDO MORENA Uruguay Peñarol (URU) 8
1976 PALHINHA Brazil Cruzeiro (BRA) 13
1977 NÉSTOR SCOTTA Argentina Deportivo Cali (COL) 5
JULIO CESAR SILVA Argentina Portuguesa (VEN) 5
1978 NÉSTOR SCOTTA Argentina Deportivo Cali (COL) 8
GUILLERMO LARROSA Perú Alianza Lima (PER) 8
1979 MILTAO Brazil Guarani (BRA) 6
JUAN JOSÉ ORÉ Perú Universitario (PER) 6
1980 WALDEMAR VICTORIANO Uruguay Nacional (URU) 6
1981 ZICO Brazil Flamengo (BRA) 11
1982 FERNANDO MORENA Uruguay Peñarol (URU) 7
1983 ARSENIO LUZARDO Uruguay Nacional (URU) 8
1984 TITA Brazil Flamengo (BRA) 8
1985 JUAN CARLOS SÁNCHEZ Argentina Blooming (BOL) 11
1986 JUAN CARLOS DE LIMA Uruguay Deportivo Quito (ECU) 11
1987 RICARDO GARECA Argentina América de Cali (COL) 7
1988 ARNOLDO IGUARÁN Colombia Millonarios (COL) 5
1989 CARLOS AGUILERA Uruguay Peñarol (URU) 10
RAUL AMARILLA Paraguay Olimpia (PAR) 10
1990 ADRIANO SAMANIEGO Paraguay Olimpia (PAR) 7
1991 GAUCHO Brazil Flamengo (BRA) 8
1992 PALHINHA Brazil São Paulo (BRA) 7
1993 JUAN CARLOS ALMADA Argentina Univ. Católica (CHI) 9
1994 STALIN RIVAS Venezuela Minervén (VEN) 7
1995 JARDEL Brazil Gremio (BRA) 12
1996 ANTHONY DE ÁVILA Colombia América de Cali (COL) 11
1997 ALBERTO ACOSTA Argentina Univ. Católica (CHI) 11
1998 SERGIO JOAO Brazil Bolívar (BOL) 10
1999 GAUCHINHO Brazil Cerro Porteño (PAR) 6
FERNANDO BAIANO Brazil Corinthians (BRA) 6
VICTOR BONILLA Colombia Deportivo Cali (COL) 6
MARTIN ZAPATA Colombia Deportivo Cali (COL) 6
RUBERTH MORAN Venezuela Estudiantes (VEN) 6
RUBEN SOSA Uruguay Nacional (URU) 6
2000 LUIZAO Brazil Palmeiras (BRA) 14
2001 LOPES Brazil Palmeiras (BRA) 9
2002 RODRIGO MENDES Brazil Gremio (BRA) 10
2003 RICARDO OLIVEIRA Brazil Santos (BRA) 9
MARCELO DELGADO Argentina Boca Juniors (ARG) 9
2004 LUIS FABIANO Brazil Sao Paulo (BRA) 8
2005 SANTIAGO SALCEDO Paraguay Cerro Porteño (PAR) 9
2006 LUIS QUINTEROS Chile Universidad Católica (CHI) 6