Fernando Muslera: Copa América champion with Uruguay and Libertadores finalist with Estudiantes

• Fernando Muslera was crowned champion of the 2011 CONMEBOL Copa América™ with Uruguay and played 22 matches in the competition.

• The goalkeeper made 137 appearances for the Uruguayan national team and kept 53 clean sheets.

• At 40, he played a decisive role in Estudiantes de La Plata's qualification for the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores final.

Fernando Muslera is set to compete in another continental final, fifteen years after winning the 2011 CONMEBOL Copa América™ with Uruguay. At 40, the goalkeeper played a starring role in Estudiantes de La Plata's qualification for the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores final after saving three penalties against Flamengo at the Maracanã. He will now aim to claim another continental title, this time at club level.

Fernando Muslera, 2011 Copa América champion with Uruguay

In 2011, Fernando Muslera was part of a historic Uruguay national team that won the CONMEBOL Copa América™, held in Argentina.

La Celeste reached the decisive match after beating Peru 2-0 in the semifinals and faced Paraguay in the final, played at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Uruguay won 3-0, with two goals from Diego Forlán and one from Luis Suárez, to claim its 15th title in the competition.

Muslera was the starting goalkeeper for the team coached by Óscar Washington Tabárez, which also featured players such as Diego Godín, Edinson Cavani and Sebastián Coates.

The 2011 triumph was one of the greatest achievements of his career with the Uruguayan national team.

Fernando Muslera's numbers with Uruguay

Fernando Muslera made 137 appearances for Uruguay, including 22 matches in the CONMEBOL Copa América™.

Throughout his career with La Celeste, the goalkeeper featured in several international competitions:

• 47 World Cup qualifying matches.

• 45 international friendlies.

• 22 CONMEBOL Copa América™ matches.

• 19 FIFA World Cup™ matches.

4 FIFA Confederations Cup matches.

Muslera also kept 53 clean sheets for Uruguay. According to records from the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF), that figure rises to 54 when including a friendly in which the goalkeeper played 45 minutes.

One of the highlights of his international career was winning the 2011 CONMEBOL Copa América™, a title that forever linked him to the history of Uruguayan football.

From Copa América champion to a key figure in the Libertadores

After a long career in Europe, where he represented Lazio and Galatasaray, Muslera returned to South American football to join Estudiantes de La Plata.

The Uruguayan goalkeeper found a new opportunity to compete for a continental title he had yet to win: the CONMEBOL Libertadores.

In 2026, Muslera became a key figure for the Argentine side, which reached another tournament final following its last triumph in 2009.

His standout performance came in the semifinals against Flamengo, when he played a decisive role in securing qualification.

Three penalty saves at the Maracanã and another final

Estudiantes and Flamengo finished level after two goalless legs in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores semifinals.

Qualification was decided by a penalty shootout at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, where Muslera became the star of the match.

The Uruguayan goalkeeper saved efforts from Jorginho, Lucas Paquetá and Bruno Henrique as Estudiantes won the shootout 3-2.

Before the shootout, Muslera had also made a crucial contribution during the match. In the 87th minute, he denied Gonzalo Plata in a one-on-one situation.

His saves secured Estudiantes' place in another continental final.

A special final: Muslera will play for the Libertadores in Uruguay

The 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores final will hold special significance for Fernando Muslera. The match will take place on November 28 at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, the historic home of the Uruguayan national team. Estudiantes will face Palmeiras in pursuit of their fifth title in the competition.

For Muslera, it will be his first CONMEBOL Libertadores final, following a career that included nearly two decades in European football and five FIFA World Cup™ appearances. He will also have the opportunity to play in the decisive match in his home country.

Fifteen years later, another chance to become a champion of the Americas

In 2011, Fernando Muslera lifted the CONMEBOL Copa América™ trophy with Uruguay. In 2026, he will aim to win the CONMEBOL Libertadores with Estudiantes de La Plata.

The goalkeeper heads into this new final after a decisive performance against Flamengo, with the chance to add another continental title to his career.

Fifteen years separate the two stories. The first saw him represent the Uruguayan national team. The second finds him guarding the goal for Estudiantes.

Two shirts, two competitions and a new opportunity for Muslera to become a champion of the Americas once again.

Source: Opta