- The title that Pelé and Maradona lacked, the player-referee and the invitees of the tournament are among the trivia from the tournament.
- An Uruguayan running goalscorer and the victorious Forlán family also have an interesting history.
CONMEBOL Copa America™ has witnessed all kinds of soccer stories well known to the world of soccer. But it was also the scene of curious episodes, and some facts about its more than one hundred years of history may surprise you. In 2024, the tournament will celebrate its 108th anniversary with its 48th edition, which will be played in the United States between June 20th and July 14th.
There are still tickets available for those keen on following their favorite national teams during CONMEBOL Copa América USA 2024.
Here are some of the stories, facts, and curiosities you probably didn't know, or maybe didn't even remember, about the competition.
A tournament full of football legends
Some of the greatest players in football have participated in CONMEBOL Copa América™ throughout its history: Diego Maradona played in three editions with Argentina, scoring four goals and achieving third place on one occasion, while Pelé only participated in the 1959 tournament, scoring eight goals (he was the top scorer of that edition) for runner-up Brazil.
The great Alfredo Di Stéfano also showcased his talent with the Albiceleste: it was in 1947 when "La Saeta Rubia" scored six goals that helped the country win its ninth South American title.
The same trophy since 1916
CONMEBOL Copa America™ has a strong relationship with its historical tradition. Unlike other tournaments, the champion team lifts the same cup that has been offered since 1916, when the competition was still known as the South American Football Championship, and was acquired from Casa Escasany, a jewelry store in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Recently, the cup has undergone a restoration for the 2024 edition.
The exception was at the 2016 CONMEBOL Copa America Centenario™, when Chile, champion of that edition, won a cup made especially to celebrate the tournament's 100th anniversary.
Invitees from other continents since 1993
The first CONMEBOL Copa America™ to feature teams from outside South America was in 1993, when Mexico and the United States were invited to compete in the tournament in Ecuador. Since then, teams from other continents have become a tradition of the competition, with the exception of the 2021 edition.
With two runners-up finishes (1993 and 2001), Mexico is the most successful guest team in the CONMEBOL Copa America™ to date.
Argentina, el único 'tri' de la historia
Winning CONMEBOL Copa America™ once is already a great achievement, and winning three editions in a row is even more impressive. That's what Argentina achieved, the only country to win a third consecutive championship in history with its South American titles in 1945, 1946 and 1947.
The Forlán-Corazzo: three generations of champions of the Americas
Football runs through the veins of the Forlán-Corazzo family, as well as a winning spirit during CONMEBOL Copa América™: Juan Corazzo, his son-in-law Pablo Forlán and his grandson Diego Forlán were champions in the oldest national team tournament in the world.
During the first generation, Juan Corazzo was Uruguay's champion coach in two editions of the tournament, in 1959 and 1967. On this second occasion, he was Pablo Forlán's coach, who married his daughter and was a member of the winning team. Finally, Diego was one of the stars of the 2011 La Celeste team, which won CONMEBOL Copa América™ for the 15th time in its history.
Player and referee at the same tournament
João de Maria was one of the Brazilian players who participated in CONMEBOL Copa América™ in 1921, playing as a defender and as a striker. And he also played a third role: he refereed the 1-1 draw between Chile and Argentina, the second match for both teams.
The Brazilian team finished the tournament in third place, behind champion Uruguay and Argentina.
Isabelino Gradín, top scorer, champion... and sprinter
One of Uruguay's great players in the first decades of the 20th century was also an excellent athlete on the track: Isabelino Gradín was champion of the first edition in the history of the CONMEBOL Copa América™, in 1916, and top scorer of that edition with 3 goals scored.
In an era of amateurism in the sport, Isabelino also competed as a sprinter, competing for his country in national and international competitions in the 200-, 400-meter and 400-meter relay. He won two gold medals at the 1919 South American Athletics Championships.
Una decisión en 150 minutos
El partido más largo en la historia de la CONMEBOL Copa América™ fue en la edición de 1919, cuando Brasil y Uruguay necesitaron dos tiempos extra de 30 minutos cada uno para que el partido se decidiera – sin embargo, el duelo terminó en empate 2-2. Con los 90 minutos del tiempo reglamentario, el 26 de mayo se jugaron un total de 150 minutos entre los equipos.
