The Libertadores has seen a number of Brazilian clubs win the tournament throughout the years, but only a handful of sides got to lift the cup more than once. Palmeiras can take pride in being one of them.
With three Libertadores titles, Verdão are among the winningest Brazilian teams in the Conmebol competition. São Paulo, Flamengo, Santos, and Grêmio are the other clubs in the country with as many trophies.
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Palmeiras’ first ever continental success came in 1999, when they took down Colombian outfit Deportivo Cali in a dramatic final that was decided on penalties. After losing 1-0 in the first leg, Alviverde turned things around at home 2-1. Though they missed the first kick of the shootout, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s team ended up getting the upper hand to join the list of Libertadores champions.
More than two decades later, Palmeiras fans would get to taste continental glory again. Despite the criticism he faced for the team’s style of play, Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira led the club to the final of the 2020 edition, which took place in early 2021 due to the pandemic. When it looked like the game would go to extra time, Breno Lopes scored the winner for Palmeiras in the dying seconds of the match at the Maracanã.
Only a year later, Ferreira’s Palmeiras were once again in the Libertadores final, which was also full of drama. At the historic Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay, Deyverson capitalized on a mistake by Flamengo at the back to put Palmeiras ahead in extra time. That goal let Alviverde win 2-1 to go back-to-back and add their third Libertadores trophy to their cabinet.
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
Binge the full series, available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel.
