history

Copa Libertadores of America (officially called "Bridgestone Copa Libertadores' for sponsorship reasons) is an international football tournament organized by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL). It is the most important and prestigious top-level football clubs in South America.

It was created in 1960 under the name American Champions Cup, to face the champions of South American football associations in their respective league championships. Cup in 1965 adopted its current name in honor of the leaders of the emancipation of South America. In 1966 they began participating runners-up, and in 2000 more quotas for the following national league teams were added.

Since 1989 the winner of this competition dispute the Recopa Sudamericana and, since 2005, the Club World Cup, -this last- competition which replaced the Intercontinental Cup, which was played from 1960 to 2004 between the tournament winner and champion of Europe. Also, it ranks the second phase of the Copa Libertadores next. Also, between 1969 and 1998 champion disputed the InterAmerican Cup with the winner of the Champions Cup Concacaf. And from 1993 to 1996, the champion played the Gold Cup with the champion of the Supercopa Sudamericana, the champion of the Conmebol Cup and the champion of the Master Super Cup (later replaced by Copa Master de CONMEBOL).

It is the competition between clubs with more prestige and impact of South America and Mexico. It is held annually from January to July. The current champion is Atletico Nacional, who won his second title in the competition after winning the final Independiente del Valle of Ecuador. The club with the most titles is independent of Argentina with seven.