- Lionel Messi broke the record set by Sergio Livingstone with his 35th match in the tournament..
- 14 players have played at least 25 matches in the CONMEBOL Copa América™.
With more than a century of history, the CONMEBOL Copa América™ has been and continues to be the stage of true legends of South American and world football: many of these players have made history in multiple editions of the tournament, playing a large number of matches.
Check out who are the athletes with the most games in the history of the oldest national team tournament in the world:
13. Cornelio Heredia – Peru, Midfielder – 25 caps
Midfielder Cornelio Heredia made 25 appearances for Peru in five editions of the CONMEBOL Copa América between 1947 and 1956. His best result was 3rd place on two occasions: 1949 and 1955.
Cornelio Heredia's matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 1947: 6 matches
- 1949: 4 matches
- 1953: 6 matches
- 1955: 5 matches
- 1956: 4 matches
13. Claudio Taffarel – Brazil, Goalkeeper – 25 caps
Owner of the Brazilian national team's goal in the 1990s, Taffarel came close to surpassing his record of 25 matches played in the South American tournament. This is because he was substituted throughout the 1993 edition and, in 1995, he missed two games due to suspension. He won two titles with Brazil, in 1989 and 1997.
Taffarel's matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 1989: 7 matches
- 1991: 7 matches
- 1993: 1 match
- 1995: 4 matches
- 1997: 6 matches
13. Alex Aguinaga – Ecuador, Midfielder – 25 caps
Aguinaga is one of the greatest players in the history of Ecuador, a condition that is demonstrated, among other things, by the incredible figure he has in the CONMEBOL Copa América ™: he played eight editions of the tournament in three different decades, with a total of 25 matches in which he has been on the field.
Álex Aguinada's matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 1987: 1 match
- 1989: 4 matches
- 1991: 4 matches
- 1993: 6 matches
- 1995: 3 matches
- 1999: 3 matches
- 2001: 2 matches
- 2004: 2 matches
11. Javier Mascherano – Argentina, Midfielder – 26 caps
Mascherano was a true leader and reference of the Argentine national team throughout his career, despite the fact that the CONMEBOL Copa América™ title eluded him in four finals. 'El Jefecito' has played five different editions, making a total of 26 appearances for the Albiceleste.
Javier Mascherano's matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 2004: 5 matches
- 2007: 6 matches
- 2011: 4 matches
- 2015: 6 matches
- 2016: 5 matches
11. Pedro Gallese – Peru, Goalkeeper – 26 caps
Pedro Gallese took over the starting spot between Peru’s goalposts in the 2015 edition of the CONMEBOL Copa América™ and played every match for his national team since then. He’s La Bicolor GK with most appearances in the tournament – and also in all-time for his country.
Pedro Gallese's matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 2015: 6 matches
- 2016: 4 matches
- 2019: 6 matches
- 2021: 7 matches
- 2024: 3 matches
6. Leonel Alvarez – Colombia, Midfielder – 27 caps
'El Tierno' is one of the players who symbolized a great generation of Colombian football between the 1980s and 1990s, with 27 CONMEBOL Copa América™ matches. With Álvarez, the Cafeteros have taken 3rd place on three different occasions.
Leonel Álvarez's matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 1987: 4 matches
- 1989: 4 matches
- 1991: 7 matches
- 1993: 6 matches
- 1995: 6 matches
6. Gary Medel – Chile, Defender – 27 caps
Imposing and ferocious, Gary Medel was one of the keys to the Chilean defense that won the CONMEBOL Copa América™ in 2015 and 2016. His 27 matches in the tournament were played consecutively, from 2011 to 2021, reinforcing the magnitude of his importance and legacy to La Roja.
Gary Medel's matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 2011: 4 matches
- 2015: 6 matches
- 2016: 6 matches
- 2019: 6 matches
- 2021: 5 matches
6. Carlos Valderrama – Colombia, Midfielder – 27 caps
The CONMEBOL Copa América™ also had the honor of having the talent, charisma and iconic hairstyle of Carlos Alberto Valderrama for five editions and a total of 27 matches. 'El Pibe' is a true legend of the Colombian national team and of all South American football.
Carlos Valderrama's matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 1987: 4 matches
- 1989: 4 matches
- 1991: 7 matches
- 1993: 6 matches
- 1995: 6 matches
6. Yoshimar Yotún – Peru, Midfielder – 27 caps
The versatile Yotún was one of the main people responsible for leading the Peruvian national team to three podiums in the five editions of the CONMEBOL Copa América™ that he played since 2011: there are 27 games for the midfielder, including a final (2019) and three third places (2011, 2015 and 2021).
Yoshimar Yotún’s matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 2011: 5 matches
- 2015: 6 matches
- 2016: 3 matches
- 2019: 6 matches
- 2021: 7 matches
6. Claudio Bravo – Chile, Goalkeeper – 27 caps
Goalkeeper of La Roja's two CONMEBOL Copa América™ titles, Bravo has only missed the 2019 edition since making his tournament debut in 2004, when he made his senior debut for the Chilean national team. The rest is history: the 2015 and 2016 titles, 25 games in goal for Chile and performances that have gone down in history.
Claudio Bravo's matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 2004: 1 match
- 2007: 4 matches
- 2011: 3 matches
- 2015: 6 matches
- 2016: 6 matches
- 2021: 5 matches
- 2024: 2 matches
5. Paolo Guerrero – Peru, Forward – 28 caps
All-time leading goalscorer in the history of the Peruvian national team, Paolo Guerrero played in all editions of the CONMEBOL Copa América from 2007™ to 2019. In 2021 he was left out because he was still recovering from a serious injury sustained the previous year. Still, the striker reached the impressive mark of 28 matches with the Bicolor after returning to action during the 2024 edition in the United States.
Paolo Guerrero's matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 2007: 4 matches
- 2011: 5 matches
- 2015: 6 matches
- 2016: 4 matches
- 2019: 6 matches
- 2024: 3 matches
4. Víctor Agustín Ugarte – Bolivia, Forward – 30 caps
The Bolivian national team's top scorer in the history of the CONMEBOL Copa América ™ is also the one who has played the most matches for La Verde in the tournament: Ugarte has 30 appearances in the competition, including 5 of the 6 matches in the 1963 Bolivian title campaign.
Víctor Ugarte's matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 1947: 6 matches
- 1949: 7 matches
- 1953: 6 matches
- 1959: 6 matches
- 1963: 5 matches
3. Zizinho – Brazil, Midfielder – 33 matches
Zizinho is not only one of the top scorers in the oldest national team tournament in world football, but he is also the record holder for Brazil in CONMEBOL Copa America™ matches. His incredible 17 goals scored in six editions are as impressive as his 33 appearances in the competition.
Zizinho’s matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 1942: 4 matches
- 1945: 6 matches
- 1946: 5 matches
- 1949: 7 matches
- 1953: 5 matches
- 1957: 6 matches
2. Sergio Livingstone – Chile, Goalkeeper – 34 caps
The legendary Sergio Livingstone reigned alone for decades as the player with the most appearances in the CONMEBOL Copa América™, a true feat. There were 34 games on the pitch for the Chilean over six editions.
Sergio Livingstone's per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 1941: 4 matches
- 1942: 4 matches
- 1945: 6 matches
- 1947: 7 matches
- 1949: 7 matches
- 1953: 6 matches
1. Lionel Messi – Argentina, Forward – 36 caps
The top scorer in the history of the Argentine national team broke another record as La Albiceleste made its CONMEBOL Copa América USA 2024™ debut: he has been selected for his 35th match, becoming the player who has played the most times in the tournament.
Lionel Messi's matches per CONMEBOL Copa América™ edition
- 2007: 6 matches
- 2011: 4 matches
- 2015: 6 matches
- 2016: 5 matches
- 2019: 6 matches
- 2021: 7 matches
- 2024: 2 matches
*Updated as of June 29th, 2024 - including Peru-Argentina and Canada-Chile
CONMEBOL / Opta
