Who Has Won the Most Copa Libertadores Titles?

It is Euro-centric to label the Copa Libertadores the South American version of the Champions League (CL) but we do, after all, live in Europe and that is the simplest way to explain to the uninitiated what the competition is all about. The European Cup, as the CL was originally known, does pre-date the Copa Libertadores but not by much, the former having been founded in 1955 and the latter in 1960.

In the modern, global era, fans have far greater awareness about what is going on in other parts of the world. Until relatively recently most English football supporters only knew about or experienced Argentine or Brazilian football came when they saw those teams, and their players, perform at the World Cup.

South American footballers playing in England is far from a new phenomenon and as long ago as 1978 Spurs signed two Argentine World Cup winners: Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa. However, what has changed over the past five, 10 and even 20 years, is the number of South American stars who now ply their trade in the Premier League.

In the last decade or two, fans have become increasingly likely to bet on football from South America and also to watch it on TV. The Copa Libertadores does not attract the same hype, at least in England, as the CL, and nor does it bring the teams that play in it as much money. However, it is a really big deal and a hugely prestigious competition.

The group stage of the 2025 edition of the Copa Libertadores gets underway this week, with matches taking place on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday most weeks for the next few months. The competition is run by the South American football confederation, CONMEBOL, in the same way that UEFA administers the Champions League. The final of this year’s tournament will take place on the 29th of November, so there is a lot of football to be played before the latest champions are crowned.

Let’s take a look at which clubs have won it in the past, and also the most successful teams, and nations, in the history of the Copa Libertadores.

Independiente Lead the Way

Argentine club Independiente are the most successful team in the history of the Copa Libertadores, having lifted the trophy a magnificent seven times. Located in the Buenos Aires area, the club’s golden era came in the 1960s and 1970s, when they won six of their Copa Libertadores titles between 1964 and 1975. That included four in a row from 1972 onwards, that team going down as one of the greats in world football.

Independiente last won this competition in 1984 and have not made the final since. In fact, they hold the incredible record of never having lost a Copa Libertadores final, boasting a perfect record from their seven appearances in the showpiece. They won the second-tier Copa Sudamericana in both 2010 and 2017 but domestic honours have been very thin on the ground over the past 30 years, though they remain one of Argentina’s traditional “big five”.

More Argentine Giants Among Elite

Only four other clubs have won this famous competition more than three times and three of those are also from Argentina. The other is Penarol, who are based in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo, just a short ferry trip away from Buenos Aires. That little corner of South America has well and truly dominated this competition, as the table below shows.

Copa America Top 5

La Plata is just outside Buenos Aires and is the capital city of the wider Buenos Aires province. Estudiantes, founded in 1905, have former Man United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron as their current President. However, whilst they are in the group phase of this year’s competition, and are in with half a chance of going all the way, their best years in the Copa Libertadores were long ago. They won in 1968, 1969 and 1970, also making the final in 1971. Their most recent success came in 2009.

Argentina’s two most famous clubs, and vehement rivals from the capital, Boca and River Plate, have enjoyed more success in the 21st century. Boca claimed four wins between 2000 and 2007 and have since lost three finals. River Plate won their four titles in 1986, 1996, 2015 and 2018. That last win was huge as it was Boca that they beat.

Perhaps not a club most European fans are familiar with, Penarol are the third-most successful side in Copa Libertadores history. However, their last win was back in 1987, with their most recent appearance in the final coming in 2011.

What About Brazil?

Rather surprisingly there are no Brazilian clubs among the top seven in terms of Copa Libertadores wins and finals. Paraguayan outfit Olimpia are sixth thanks to three wins, most recently in 2002. They rank above Uruguayan club Nacional, who also have three wins, by having appeared in seven finals overall compared to six for the Montevideo outfit.

There are several teams from Brazil, traditionally seen as the continent’s football powerhouse, who have three wins. In fact, a massive five teams from the land of Pele and Neymar have won the Copa Libertadores three teams, whilst two more come next on the list thanks to their two wins.

Team Who Won More Than Once

Below we can see all the other teams (beyond the top five in the first table) to have won this competition more than once.

Heading into the 2025 season of the Copa Libertadores, it is another Brazilian club, Botafogo, who are the champions. The Rio outfit are one of a number of Brazilian clubs who, if the bookies are to be believed, have a great chance of glory in 2025. Flamengo and Palmeiras lead the way at 9/2, with the defending champions and River Plate next at 8/1.

We do not know who will win, but what we do know for sure is that there will be some brilliant matches taking place over the next six months.