Copa Libertadores: All 32 Teams, Top Players, and Statistics
Copa Libertadores is South America's premier continental club football competition, held annually since 1960. It's also among the most analytically interesting tournaments in world football, combining wide style variance, altitude dynamics, tight quality distribution, and a long knockout path. This guide walks through the 32 group-stage participants, their prominent players, honours, and statistical profiles.
The format
Qualifying rounds trim the 47+ entrants down to 32 group-stage clubs.
Group stage: 32 clubs in 8 groups of 4.
Knockout rounds: Top 2 from each group (16 clubs) → R16 → two-legged knockouts through to the final.
Final: Single-leg final at a predetermined venue since 2019 (historically two-legged).
Season runs January through November typically.
The 32 group-stage clubs (CONMEBOL distribution)
Argentina (6 slots)
Boca Juniors
6 Libertadores titles. Historical South American power.
Top players: Edinson Cavani (senior role), Equi Fernández, Luis Advíncula, Chiquito Romero (senior).
River Plate
4 Libertadores titles.
Top players: Enzo Pérez (legacy), Franco Mastantuono, Pablo Solari, Germán Pezzella.
Racing Club
1 Libertadores title (1967).
Top players: Gastón Martirena, Juanfer Quintero.
Independiente
Most decorated: 7 Libertadores titles.
Top players: Santiago Toloza, Kevin Lomónaco.
Estudiantes
4 Libertadores titles.
Top players: Gustavo del Prete, Mauro Méndez.
Vélez Sarsfield
1 Libertadores title (1994).
Top players: Thiago Fernández, Michael Santos.
Brazil (7 slots, most of any nation)
Palmeiras
2 recent Libertadores (2020, 2021). Strong recent era.
Top players: Raphael Veiga, Dudu, Vitor Roque (partial), Gustavo Gómez, Richard Ríos, Giay.
Flamengo
3 Libertadores titles (1981, 2019, 2022).
Top players: Gabriel Barbosa, Arrascaeta, Pedro, Bruno Henrique, Jorginho.
Fluminense
2023 Libertadores winners.
Top players: Marcelo (retired, legacy), Arias, German Cano, Thiago Santos.
São Paulo
3 Libertadores titles historically.
Top players: Lucas Moura, Rafinha, Bobadilla, Calleri.
Internacional
2 Libertadores titles (2006, 2010).
Top players: Alan Patrick, Borré, Rafael Borré, Gustavo Cuellar.
Atlético Mineiro
2013 Libertadores winners.
Top players: Hulk (legacy), Paulinho, Bernard.
Grêmio
3 Libertadores titles historically.
Top players: Diego Costa (senior), Villasanti, Monsalve.
Colombia (4 slots)
Millonarios
Top players: Daniel Cataño, Leonardo Castro.
Atlético Nacional
2 Libertadores titles (1989, 2016).
Top players: Jefferson Duque, Sebastián Gómez.
América de Cali
Top players: Adrián Ramos (legacy).
Junior de Barranquilla
Top players: Carlos Bacca (legacy).
Paraguay (4 slots)
Olímpia
3 Libertadores titles (1979, 1990, 2002).
Top players: Gaspar Báez, Hugo Quintana.
Cerro Porteño
Top players: Marcos Riveros, Fabrizio Peralta.
Libertad
Top players: Hugo Martínez.
Guaraní
Top players: Wálter González.
Peru (4 slots)
Universitario
Top players: Piero Quispe, José Rivera.
Alianza Lima
Top players: Hernán Barcos (legacy).
Sporting Cristal
Top players: Joffre Escobar.
Melgar
Top players: Kenji Cabrera.
Bolivia (4 slots), altitude advantage
The Strongest (La Paz, altitude)
Top players: Rodrigo Ramallo.
Bolívar (La Paz, altitude)
Top players: Francisco da Costa.
Always Ready (El Alto, highest altitude)
Top players: Marcos Riquelme.
Oriente Petrolero
Top players: Thiago dos Santos.
Uruguay (4 slots)
Peñarol
5 Libertadores titles.
Top players: Maximiliano Silveira, Matías Arezo.
Nacional
3 Libertadores titles (1971, 1980, 1988).
Top players: Diego Polenta, Martín Rodríguez.
Liverpool Montevideo
Top players: Ignacio Ramírez.
Plaza Colonia
Top players: Christian Marrero.
Ecuador (4 slots)
LDU Quito
1 Libertadores title (2008).
Top players: Alex Arce.
Barcelona SC
Top players: Damián Díaz, Janner Corozo.
Emelec
Top players: Romario Caicedo.
Independiente del Valle
Recent Libertadores knockout rounds.
Top players: Michael Hoyos.
Chile (4 slots)
Colo-Colo
1 Libertadores title (1991).
Top players: Arturo Vidal (legacy), Cristián Zavala, Lucas Cepeda.
Universidad Católica
Top players: Mateus Villarroel.
Universidad de Chile
Top players: Matías Zaldivia.
Audax Italiano
Top players: Luciano Arriagada.
Venezuela (4 slots)
Deportivo Lara
Top players: Yordin Gavidia.
Deportivo Táchira
Top players: Junior Paredes.
Metropolitanos FC
Top players: Ricardo Andreutti.
Monagas
Top players: Edanyilber Díaz.
Statistical context
Group-stage goals per match: ~2.3 (lower than UCL due to tactical variance and defensive emphasis)
Average xG per team per match: 1.2-1.4
Home advantage at altitude venues (La Paz, Quito, Cusco): ~58-62% (vs baseline ~54%)
Most Libertadores titles (all-time):
- Independiente (Argentina): 7
- Boca Juniors (Argentina): 6
- Peñarol (Uruguay): 5
- Estudiantes, River Plate, Olímpia (Paraguay), Santos, Palmeiras, Nacional (Uruguay), Grêmio: 3 each
The takeaway
Copa Libertadores 2026/27 brings together 32 clubs from 10 CONMEBOL nations. Brazilian clubs dominate recent history (Palmeiras, Flamengo, Fluminense, Atlético Mineiro); Argentine powers (Boca, River, Independiente) remain historical fixtures; altitude factor in Bolivian and Ecuadorian venues genuinely affects outcomes; smaller-market clubs periodically produce deep knockout runs.
Tactiq covers every Libertadores match with probability triples, confidence indicators, altitude-adjusted expected goals, and tactical reads. 1,200-plus competitions in total coverage, 32-language localisation including Spanish and Portuguese for South American readership, free tier of eight analyses per day, no credit card required.
Companion reads: the Copa Libertadores AI guide for tactical reading habits, the AFC Champions League Elite guide for continental comparison, UCL teams cornerstone, Club World Cup 32 Teams.