Copa Libertadores de América

The Copa Libertadores de América is an international football cup competition played between the top clubs of South America. In recent years, top clubs from Mexico have also competed.

Two teams from each country are entered, one of which will be the league champions. The competition is run annually, there is a preliminary round and a first round where then the teams are divided into groups of four, the top two teams from each group are then drawn in a two legged second round. The rounds continue with two legs through the quarter-final, semi-final 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.

The first cup was competed for in 1960 and was won by Club Atlético Peñarol of Uruguay. As of 2002, nineteen 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.