The Libertadores is the trophy every player in South America dreams of winning ever since they start kicking a ball. That has a lot to do with the storied clubs and iconic players that left their mark on the competition.
While several clubs from Brazil got their hands on the cup, many legendary footballers in the country have also tasted the continental glory.
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Pelé was one of the first to cement a legacy in the Libertadores, winning the title in consecutive years with Santos during the tournament’s early years.
Eventually, Zico also etched his name in Libertadores’ history by lifting the prize with Flamengo in 1981.
As the years went by, more iconic players born in Brazil went on to join the list of Libertadores-winning footballers.
This century saw modern stars such as Neymar, Ronaldinho, Marcelo, and David Luiz also win the title. Here are some of the Brazilian legends that lifted the Libertadores throughout history:
- Pelé: 1962, 1963 (Santos)
- Zico: 1981 (Flamengo)
- Cafú: 1992, 1993 (São Paulo)
- Rogério Ceni: 1993, 2005 (São Paulo)
- Dida: 1997 (Cruzeiro)
- Neymar: 2011 (Santos)
- Ronaldinho: 2013 (Atlético Mineiro)
- David Luiz: 2022 (Flamengo)
- Marcelo: 2023 (Fluminense)
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.
Watch the full series, available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel.
