Latin American Teams with more Participations in Copa Libertadores

Throughout its 63 editions, the 'Eternal Glory' has countless stories, anecdotes, and protagonists. This time we will focus on the teams that played the most tournaments. Each country has a benchmark that became a regular in CONMEBOL's most important club competition.

You can also read: James Rodríguez: The Colombian Star in Decline

The team with the most participations in the Libertadores

Nacional de Montevideo, the club from the Uruguayan capital has played a total of 50 editions and has achieved 3 titles in the years of 1971, 1980 and 1988 respectively. Despite its large number of appearances, it is the second winner from its country, behind Peñarol with five cups to his credit.

The dean of Guarani soccer and three-time continental champion

Olimpia from Paraguay played a total of 45 editions, was a finalist in the first edition of the tournament and achieved glory in the years 1979, 1990 and 2002, being the only team from their country to achieve the much-awaited trophy.

Most Recurring Champion

River Plate of Argentina has 39 participations, it was champion in four editions, 1986, 1996, 2015, 2018. Its last title was achieved against its main rival, Boca Juniors, on December 9, 2018, at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, this being the only final played outside of American territory.

The benchmark of Peruvian soccer

Sporting Cristal participated in 38 editions of the tournament, its best performance was the final that it played in the 1997 edition against Cruzeiro from Brazil. Along with Universitario de Deportes, they are the only Peruvian teams to reach the final stage of the cup.

The greatest exponent of Bolivian soccer

Club Bolívar played a total of 37 editions of the Copa Libertadores, their best performances were in 1986 and 2014, where they reached the semifinals in this competition. It is the tenth team with the highest number of wins in the history of the competition, which is why it is considered one of the great historical ones.

Chilean soccer champion

Colo Colo was in 36 editions of the international competition, winning the cup in the 1991 edition and being a finalist in the 1973 edition. Along with Cobreloa, Unión Española and Universidad Católica, they are the only southern teams to play in the final series of the tournament.

The 'Idol of the Astillero'

Barcelona de Guayaquil, a team from the Ecuadorian coast, is the team with the most participation in the Copa Libertadores in its country, reaching a total of 29. It was a finalist in the 1990 and 1998 editions and reached the semifinal stage on seven other occasions, an aspect that makes it one of the most recurring teams to reach these stages of the competition.

The Venezuelan ambassador to the continent

Deportivo Táchira is the team with the most participations in this competition in their country, with a total of 25. Their best participation was in 2004, in which they reached the quarterfinals and eliminated the historic Nacional de Montevideo.

The Colombian 'King of Cups'

Atlético Nacional, a team from the city of Medellín, is the coffee team that participated in the most editions of the Copa Libertadores, with a total of 24. It won the competition title twice, in 1989 and 2016, and was also a finalist in the edition of 1995. Their 2016 title will be remembered for the great performance they had throughout the tournament, being the best team in the group stage and barely losing one game out of the 14 they played.

The multiple Brazilian champion

Palmeiras participated in the Copa Libertadores throughout 23 editions, being the one that played the most tournaments as a representative of its country. It was champion in 3 editions, 1999, 2020 and 2021, in addition to being a finalist in 1961, 1968 and 2000, a statistic that it has together with São Paulo as the best-performing Brazilian teams in this competition.

The most recurring guest

América de México is the non-CONMEBOL team that has the most editions of the Copa Libertadores, with a total of seven. Their best performance was in the 2000 and 2002 edition, in which they reached the semifinals, being eliminated by Boca Juniors and two years later by São Caetano.

These eleven referents of Latin American soccer set a trend around the most prestigious club tournament in our region. Who will maintain its hegemony? Will they be able to increase their number of shares? Will any other competitor enter this prestigious list? The emotions of the 'Eternal Glory' continue their march in the framework of its 63rd edition.