TL;DR
- Copa Libertadores was decided in August 1959 and named "Libertadores de América".
- Independiente leads with 7 titles, Boca Juniors has 6, and Peñarol has 5.
- River Plate, Estudiantes LP, and Flamengo each hold 4 Copa Libertadores titles.
On July 30, 1959, the Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol convened in Caracas, where the concept of a tournament to bring together all continental champions, the Copa de Campeones, was highlighted. Just a few days later, on August 2, with 8 votes in favor from representatives of all nations (Uruguay voted against and Venezuela abstained), the establishment of the competition was decided. Ultimately, at the congress held between August 27 and 30, it was determined that it would be named "Libertadores de América".
The inaugural season occurred in 1960 and it swiftly became the aspiration of any South American team and one of the most esteemed contests in the world of football.
¿Qué clubes han ganado la Copa Libertadores en más ocasiones?
Since its inaugural event in 1960, up to the present day, a sum of 27 equipos se han quedado con el trofeo, has occurred, with Independiente, de la Argentina, el que más veces lo alzó encompassing a total of 7 consagraciones, the most recent in 1984. Furthermore, the squad from the city of Avellaneda holds the distinction of having triumphed en todas las finales que disputó..
#EfemeridesCAI - 27/7/84: El Rojo achieved a 0-0 draw against Gremio in Avellaneda (having won 1-0 in Brazil), securing its 7th Copa Libertadores title. Pic.twitter.com/1vxQgktDwG
— C. A. Independiente (@Independiente) July 27, 2017
Just one step below is Boca Juniors, with 6 copas to its credit. The Argentine giant, whose most recent victory was in 2007, is the team that has played in the most decisive matches, a total of 12 finales..
#Boca ganó la #CopaLibertadores en seis ocasiones: 1977, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2003 y 2007. Pic.twitter.com/aSOKcFEx4S
— Boca Juniors (@BocaJrsOficial) February 24, 2016
Con 5 Libertadores en su historial, Peñarol de Uruguay se posiciona como la tercera escuadra con más títulos, además de ser la pionera en obtener la corona en la historia del torneo continental. La más reciente victoria Aurinegro ocurrió en 1987.
#UnDiaComoHoy, el 31 de Octubre de 1987, Peñarol se alzaba con su 5ª Copa Libertadores gracias al tanto agónico anotado por "La Fiera" Aguirre.
— PEÑAROL (@OficialCAP) October 31, 2019
¡INOLVIDABLE! Pic.twitter.com/szFPQlHDZk
River Plate, the other major team in Argentina, has a total of 4 Copas Libertadores. The most recent one? The one most remembered by its fans was in 2018 when they defeated Boca in Madrid.
#ElMásGrande2018
— River Plate (@RiverPlate) December 31, 2018
📆 9/12/2018 – EL MÁS GRANDE DE LA HISTORIA
Once more overcoming a deficit, River defeated Boca 3-1 in what was the most significant Copa Libertadores final ever, securing eternal glory in Madrid. Pic.twitter.com/F3pp0AA5mv
Estudiantes de La Plata also boasts 4 Copa Libertadores trophies in its display case and can proudly claim to be the second team to achieve a three-peat and the first to do so consecutively. The most recent triumph for the Pincharratas in the competition was securing the 2009 edition.
⚽🏆🇦🇹 Four-time champions of America! On this day in 2009, we defeated @Cruzeiro 2-1 at the Mineirao and once again lifted the #Libertadores. It was the fourth time in our history! 🤩 Unforgettable. Thank you, heroes! 👏❤️ pic.twitter.com/2mgBp7Ozqs
— Estudiantes de La Plata (@EdelpOficial) July 15, 2020
The Flamengo stands as the sole Brazilian team to have secured the Libertadores title on four occasions. Their inaugural victory occurred in 1981, featuring Zico as the prominent star, followed by subsequent triumphs in 2019, 2022, and 2025, marking a golden period for the Mengao.
É PRECISO DEMONSTRAR RESPEITO PELO COLOSSAL CLUBE DE REGATAS DO FLAMENGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
— Flamengo (@Flamengo) November 29, 2025
TETRACAMPEÃO DA LIBERTADORESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!#primeirotetra #campeão pic.twitter.com/k9lDpc3Eaf
Los clubes con la mayor cantidad de títulos de la Copa Libertadores
| Equipo | Campeón | Sub | Finales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independiente | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Boca Juniors | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| Peñarol | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| River Plate | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Estudiantes LP | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Flamengo | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Olimpia | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| São Paulo | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Palmeiras | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Nacional | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Grêmio | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Santos | 3 | 2 | 5 |