Recopa Sudamericana · History

Boca Juniors have won the Recopa Sudamericana more times than any other club: four, in 1990, 2005, 2006 and 2008. River Plate follow with three (2015, 2016 and 2019). São Paulo, Internacional, Grêmio, Olimpia and LDU Quito have two apiece. Organised by CONMEBOL, the Recopa pits the Copa Libertadores champion against the winner of the continent's second club competition each year. It was first played in 1989, and 34 editions had been contested by 2026, won by 24 different clubs. By country, Brazilian sides have 13 titles and Argentine sides 12. Ecuador has three and Paraguay two. Colombia, Chile, Uruguay and Peru have one each.

Origins and first editions

The competition was designed as South America's super cup. In its first phase it matched the Libertadores winner against the Supercopa Sudamericana champion, a tournament reserved for former Libertadores winners. It borrowed its name from a Cup Winners' Cup played in 1970 and partly in 1971, although the two have no direct link. The first final, in 1989, went to Nacional of Montevideo against Racing Club over two legs in Montevideo and Buenos Aires. In 1990 the match was moved to Miami, where Supercopa holders Boca Juniors beat Atlético Nacional of Medellín 1-0. There was no final in 1991. Olimpia of Asunción had won both the Libertadores and the Supercopa in 1990 and were handed the trophy without playing.

The Japan years

In the early 1990s the final became a one-off match in Japan, under the name Recopa Toyota Sudamericana. Kobe hosted it in 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1997, and Tokyo in 1995. In 1992 Colo-Colo beat Cruzeiro 5-4 on penalties after a 0-0 draw. São Paulo won in 1993 and 1994, first against Cruzeiro over two legs and then against Botafogo in Kobe. Independiente won in 1995, Grêmio in 1996 and Vélez Sarsfield in 1997. In 1998 Cruzeiro beat River Plate in the last edition under the original format.

Hiatus and return

When the Supercopa Sudamericana was scrapped after 1998, the Recopa lost one of its two qualifiers and was not played from 1999 to 2002. It returned in 2003 with the Copa Sudamericana champion as the Libertadores winner's opponent. Olimpia beat San Lorenzo in Los Angeles in the comeback final. In 2004 Cienciano defeated Boca Juniors on penalties in Fort Lauderdale, giving Peru its only title. Since 2005 the final has been played over two legs at the finalists' own grounds.

From Boca to River

Boca won three of the four editions between 2005 and 2008, against Once Caldas, São Paulo and Arsenal de Sarandí. Internacional won in 2007 against Pachuca, the only Mexican club to reach the final, and again in 2011. In between, LDU Quito were champions in 2009 and 2010, beating Internacional and Estudiantes. Santos (2012), Corinthians (2013) and Atlético Mineiro (2014) kept the trophy in Brazil. River Plate then took three titles in five years: 2015 against San Lorenzo, 2016 against Independiente Santa Fe and 2019 against Athletico Paranaense. Atlético Nacional won in 2017 against Chapecoense, and Grêmio in 2018 against Independiente.

Editions since 2020

Flamengo lifted their first Recopa in 2020 against Independiente del Valle, who would win it in 2023 against Flamengo. In 2021 Defensa y Justicia beat Palmeiras in Brasília, and a year later Palmeiras won it against Athletico Paranaense. Fluminense overcame LDU Quito in 2024 and Racing Club beat Botafogo in 2025. The 2026 edition went to Lanús against Flamengo: 1-0 in the first leg at Lanús and 3-2 after extra time in the return leg at the Maracanã on 26 February 2026.