Argentina–Uruguay football rivalry

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Argentina–Uruguay football rivalry
Diego Maradona and Rubén Paz at the 1979 South American U-20 Championship
Other namesClásico del Río de la Plata
LocationSouth America (CONMEBOL)
Teams Argentina
 Uruguay
First meeting20 July 1902[1][2][3][4]
Friendly
Uruguay 0–6 Argentina
Latest meeting16 November 2023
2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Argentina 0–2 Uruguay
Next meeting20 March 2025
2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
Uruguay v Argentina
Statistics
Meetings total212 (189 official)
Most winsArgentina (97) (88 official)
All-time seriesArgentina: 97 (88 official)
Draw: 52 (46 official)
Uruguay: 63 (51 official)
Largest victoryArgentina 6–0 Uruguay
(20 July 1902)
Argentina–Uruguay football rivalry is located in South America
Argentina
Argentina
Uruguay
Uruguay

The Argentina–Uruguay football rivalry, also known as Clásico del Río de la Plata, is a highly competitive sports rivalry that exists between the Argentine and Uruguayan national football teams and their respective set of fans. Considered by football journalists and fans alike as one of the most important rivalries in the sport, the derby is also the most played in football history. According to FIFA records, 197 official matches have been played to date, the first of which was played on 20 July 1902, in which both teams played the first international match outside the United Kingdom in Uruguay, with Argentina winning by 6–0.[5][6][1]

Games between the two teams, even those that are only friendly matches, are often marked by notable and sometimes controversial incidents. In addition, both national teams have been described as some of the most successful sides in the history of association football; Argentina has won three FIFA World Cups, whereas Uruguay won two. Both teams have won the Copa América a record-fifteen times and have won two gold medals at the Olympic Games. The two nations have also seen success in other inter-confederation and youth competitions, and are also routinely ranked among the top national teams in the world in both the FIFA World Rankings and the World Football Elo Ratings. As of 2023, Argentina has won 92 matches, Uruguay has won 59 matches, and 46 matches ended in a draw.[7]

Aside from the national teams, both countries have produced some of the most successful clubs in the world. The Big Five have represented Argentina's success in club football for most of its history, although other clubs have achieved success in recent history as well, respectively. In Uruguay, Peñarol and Nacional have predominantly been the most successful clubs in the country ever since the introduction of the sport. In the Copa Libertadores, Argentine clubs have reached the final 38 times, with 25 coming out as champions, whereas Uruguayan clubs have appeared in 16 finals and have won 8 of them. In the Copa Sudamericana, Argentine clubs have been featured 15 times, winning it on 9 occasions. No Uruguayan club, however, has yet reached a Copa Sudamericana final. In all intercontinental competitions, including the Intercontinental Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, Argentine clubs have won 9 tournaments and were runners-up 14 times, and Uruguayan clubs won 6 tournaments and were runners-up 2 times. In 2009, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics released a series of statistical studies that determined the best continental clubs of the 20th century. For South America, Peñarol was ranked as the greatest football club in the continent. This was followed by Independiente, Nacional, and River Plate in that order. Boca Juniors were ranked sixth overall, although Boca Juniors were ranked as the best South American club for the first decade of the 21st century in 2012.[8][9][10][11]

The two nations have also produced many defining players since their introduction to the sport. This includes but isn't limited to, Uruguay's golden generation from the first half of the 20th century, consisting of the likes of José Leandro Andrade, Alcides Ghiggia, José Nasazzi, and Juan Alberto Schiaffino, to Argentina's international prominence later on with names such as Gabriel Batistuta, Mario Alberto Kempes, Diego Maradona, and Daniel Passarella, and eventually down to modern-day generational talents, including Edinson Cavani, Ángel Di María, Diego Forlan, Lionel Messi, Juan Román Riquelme, and Luis Suárez.[12][13]

History[edit]

Background[edit]

See also: Football in Argentina, Football in Uruguay, and British football clubs tours to South America

The foundation of the rivalry can be traced to the countries' similarities; both countries' share the same cultures and ethnicities derived from the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata from the 18th century, and later on, the influx of European immigration, starting as early as the 19th century, which would eventually establish the modern-day society of Argentina and Uruguay. Amongst the mass immgration included the British, but unlike most immigrants such as from Spain and Italy who were escaping poverty and political turmoil in their homeland, the British were skilled workers, ranchers, businessmen, and bureaucrats. During this time, Argentina and Uruguay were emerging nations and the settlers were welcomed for the stability they brought to commercial life. As a result, the British brought over their customs and traditions, including football. The name of the rivalry is based on their geographical location; the Río de la Plata forms part of the border between Argentina and Uruguay.[14]

The first game was played in Argentina on 20 June 1867, with the establishment of Buenos Aires Football Club, the first football club not only in Argentina, but in South America. In Uruguay, football had been introduced in 1870. Argentina organised its first league championship, Primera División, in 1891 while Uruguay held its first domestic tournament, also named the Primera División, in 1900. The Argentine and Uruguayan Associations were the first national football organisations in South America, developing together the first international competitions in the Río de la Plata, such as Tie Cup (1900) and Copa de Honor Cousenier (1905), played by the champions of each association.[15]

1900-1902: Beginnings; first international football match outside the United Kingdom[edit]

Main article: 1902 Uruguay v Argentina football match
The Argentina (left) and Uruguayan (right) national teams that played the first international football match outside Great Britain in Montevideo on July 20, 1902

Although the first match ever recorded between Argentina and Uruguay was played on 16 May 1901, the match isn't registered as an official game due to the match being organised by the Albion Football Club, not by the Uruguayan Football Association, at the club's home ground in Paso del Molino, Montevideo. The Uruguayan side had nine players from that club and the remainder from Nacional. Argentina won the match 3–2. The first official match was held in the same venue, on 20 July 1902, with Argentina beating Uruguay 6–0.

Uruguay 0–6 Argentina
Charles Dickinson 3'
Germán Arímalo 31' (o.g.)
Edward Morgan 64'
Carlos Carve Urioste 66' (o.g.)
Juan Anderson 71'
Jorge Brown 86'
Estadio del Albion Football Club (Estadio Parque Dr. Enrique Falco Lichtemberger), Paso del Molino
Montevideo, Uruguay
Attendance: 8,000

Players that represented the Argentine squad were from Alumni (5 players), Quilmes (2), Belgrano AC (2), Lomas (1) and Barracas AC (1). For Uruguay, the squad was formed by eight players from Nacional and three from Albion. There were no players from CURCC in Uruguay, as the club didn't allow their players to participate in the match.[16][17][18][19][20]

1905-1916: First competitions[edit]

During its first years of existence, both national teams played only friendly matches amongst each other until the establishment of the Copa Lipton in 1905, organized by both Argentine and Uruguayan Football Associations. The trophy had been donated by the Scottish tea magnate Thomas Lipton with the condition that the teams be made up of only native-born players. The tournament was contested on an annual basis between 1905 and 1992. The decade of 1910 is considered "the golden age" of the competition, due to Argentina and Uruguay were the predominant teams in South America by then and the Copa Lipton was the most important competition for both sides, considering that CONMEBOL had not been established until 1916. The first official title won by Argentina was the 1906 Copa Lipton, defeating Uruguay 2–0 in Montevideo. Throughout the duration of the competition, Argentina won the title 17 times, whereas Uruguay won it 11 times.[21]

The 1912 edition of the Copa Lipton match being played at the Estadio Racing Club in Buenos Aires

Other notable competition for both sides was the Copa Newton, also established in 1906 and continued on an annual basis until 1930. Similar to the Copa Lipton, Nicanor Newton, director of Sportsman magazine, a former Argentine-based sports magazine company, donated the trophy for a competition which would be held for beneficial purposes. Argentina won the first edition as well, defeating Uruguay 2-1 at the Sociedad Sportiva Argentina in Buenos Aires. It has only been played sporadically since, with the last edition being contested in 1976. Argentina and Uruguay have also won the tournament 17 and 11 times, respectively.[22]

Apart from Copa Lipton and Copa Newton, two other competitions were established, with the particularity of each one being hosted in each side of the Río del Plata. The Copa Premier Honor Argentino was held in Buenos Aires (1908-1920) while the Copa Premier Honor Uruguayo (1911–1924) was held in Montevideo.[23][24]

In 1910, the Argentine Football Association organized the Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo in honor of the centennial anniversary of the May Revolution in Argentina. The competition is notable for being the first international tournament of South America where more than two football nations participated and is also considered a predecessor to Copa América. Participating teams featured the Argentine, Uruguayan, and Chilean national teams. Formtted in a round-robin system, all three games were played in Buenos Aires; the first match was played in Cancha de Colegiales and the Estadio Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires. Because of having featured three of the subsequent four founding members of CONMEBOL, the Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo was sometimes called "the first Copa América". However, CONMEBOL recognizes the 1916 South American Championship as the first edition of the competition.[25][26][27]

1916: Inaguration of the Copa América[edit]

Argentina playing against Uruguay at Estadio Nacional del Perú during the 1927 South American Championship on 20 November 1927

Six years after the Copa Cenenario Revolución de Mayo, the first edition of the "Campeonato Sudamericano de Fútbol" (South American Football Championship), later known as the "Copa América", was contested in Argentina to commemorate the centenary of the Argentine Declaration of Independence. As a result, the four participating associations of the tournament (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay) gathered in Buenos Aires in order to officially create a governing body to facilitate the organization of the tournament. A week after the start of the tournament, on 9 July 1916, the continental governing body of football in South America, CONMEBOL, was founded under initiative of Uruguayan Héctor Rivadavia Gómez with the approval of the four associations. The first Constitutional Congress on 15 December of that same year, which took place in Montevideo, ratified the decision.[28]

Hosted in the Estadio Gimnasia y Esgrima de Buenos Aires and the Estadio Racing Club in Buenos Aires, six matches were played; each team played one match against each of the other teams. Two points were awarded for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a defeat. Uruguay and Argentina met in the final match of the tournament at Racing Club on 17 July 1916, with the match ending in a goalless draw. Uruguay would win the first continental trophy with five points, whereas Argentina came second with four points. Despite Argentina and Uruguay's large history in the most important competition of South America, they have never played a final match facing each other.[29][30]

1917-1923: Continuation of international and exhibition tournaments; the "Olympic Goal"[edit]

The ball, shot by Cesáreo Onzari, scores a goal for Argentina against Uruguay in 1924. This was the first goal scored direct from a corner

In 1924, Argentina played a friendly match against Uruguay at Sportivo Barracas' stadium. When only 15 minutes had been played, winger Cesáreo Onzari scored from a corner kick, with no other player touching the ball before scoring. Due to the fact that Uruguay was the Olympic champion, this play was called "Gol Olímpico". This denomination still remains.[31]

The goal stood since FIFA had previously regulated goals scored directly from the corner kick, as Onzari did during that match. According to La Nación newspaper, 52,000 fans attended the game, an Argentina 2–1 win, where the Uruguayan team left the field with only four minutes to play. Argentine players later complained about the rough play of the Uruguayans during the match, while their rivals also complained about the aggressiveness of local spectators, who threw bottles at them at the end of the match.[32]

1924-1929: Uruguay's dominance at the Summer Olympics[edit]

Uruguay-Argentina captains, referee Johannes Mutters and linesmen before the final match at the 1928 Summer Olympics

The 1928 Summer Olympics saw the first match of Argentina and Uruguay playing each other outside South America. In the final the Uruguayans played Argentina who had trounced Egypt, a team (Egypt) that would now fold like a house of cards; clearly out of their depth against more sophisticated opposition, conceding 6 goals to Argentina and as many as eleven to Italy in the Bronze medal match.

Argentina came to the final after thrashing United States 11–2, Belgium 6–3 and Egypt 6–0, while Uruguay had defeated The Netherlands, Germany and Italy in previous rounds. The interest was immense, with The Dutch having received 250,000 requests for tickets from all over Europe.

The first game (attended by 28,253 spectators) finished 1–1. The tie went to a replay. With the winning goal by Héctor Scarone, Uruguay won the replay match, also achieving their second consecutive gold medal, with 28,113 spectators in the stadium.[33]

After the finals, players from both teams did not speak with each other. Tango singer Carlos Gardel invited Argentine and Uruguayan players to a show in the cabaret "El Garrón", in Paris. His efforts to achieve a reconciliation between both parts were not successful so Argentine and Uruguayan ended up in a fight during the show.[33]

"(Carlos) Gardel knew I played the violin so he invited me to play with him on stage. When the song finished, players of both sides started to throw breadcrumbs at each other, then they started to throw breads and then, bottles of wine. The Rioplatense brotherhood went to hell. In the midst of chaos, I saw a black man coming over me, I'm not sure if he was Negro Andrade but I broke the Stradivarius on his head, just in case."

— Argentine player Raimundo Orsi, speaking about the riot at the cabaret.[33]

1930: Inaguration of the FIFA World Cup[edit]

Main article: 1930 FIFA World Cup Final
Uruguay's fourth goal, scored by striker Héctor Castro at the 1930 Final

In 1930 Uruguay organised the first FIFA World Cup. As two years before at the Summer Olympics, Argentina and Uruguay played the final, held in the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. Argentina had previously defeated France, Mexico, Chile and the United States, while Uruguay beat Peru, Romania and Yugoslavia. Both teams thrashed United States and Yugoslavia for the same score (6–1) at the semifinals.

Pasculli scoring v. Uruguay at the 1986 World Cup

The final ended 4–2 to Uruguay after they trailed 2–1 at half-time, adding the title of World Cup winners to their status as Olympic champions. Jules Rimet, president of FIFA, presented the Uruguayan team with the World Cup Trophy, which was later named after him. The following day was declared a national holiday in Uruguay;[34] in the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires a mob threw stones at the Uruguayan consulate.[35]

The last living player from that final, Francisco Varallo (who played as a striker for Argentina), died on 30 August 2010 at the age of 100.[36]

The second time Argentina and Uruguay met in a World Cup was in 1986, when Argentina beat Uruguay 1–0 at round of 16, with goal by Pedro Pasculli. The squad managed by Carlos Bilardo eliminated the Uruguayan side, advancing to the next stage. Argentina would then win their second world title when they beat West Germany 3–2 in the final.

Controversies[edit]

FIFA World Cup qualifications[edit]

2002 FIFA World Cup qualification agreement[edit]

See also: es:Partido de clasificación para la Copa Mundial de 2002 entre Uruguay y Argentina

In the eighteenth and last round of the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification, Uruguay was set to meet Argentina at the Centenario. Before the match, on 14 November 2001, Uruguay was fighting for fifth place, the inter-confederation play-off spot, against the Colombian national team. Colombia managed to win against Paraguay in Asunción 4–0 and surpassed Uruguay by one point with a total of 27 points in the qualification bracket. Uruguay had 26 points but had a greater goal difference than Colombia by one goal in favor. Therefore, a tie or win was a must for the Uruguayan side to keep their qualification hopes alive. According to Juan Sebastián Verón, who was in the starting eleven for Argentina, the team noticed that the Uruguayan players and local fans "were suffering" after the result in Asunción was already known. After the conclusion of the first half which saw Argentina and Uruguay tied 1–1, with a goal by Claudio López and Darío Silva respectively, the Argentine side stopped attacking in the second half and the match resulted in a tie. This was enough for Uruguay to qualify for the play-off competition and resulted in Colombia's elimination via goal differentiation. Argentine sports newspaper Olé entitled their article on the match, "You're Welcome, bo!", whereas Uruguayan newspaper El País entitled theirs, "Our Great Brother".[37][38]

Local media also attributed Argentine players Germán Burgos and Juan Pablo Sorín with saying that they would have let themselves lose the match if Uruguay needed the three points. Colombia asked FIFA the week of the playoffs to investigate the match, but no action took place. In 2004, then-Uruguayan coach Juan Ramón Carrasco clarified that an "agreement" was made with the Argentine team to maintain the result to qualify for the playoffs. Uruguay would eventually qualify in the playoff competition, having beat Australia 3–0 at home after a 1–0 defeat in the first leg.[39]

2006 and 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifications[edit]

Football journalists have criticised similar actions taken place between the two nations in later FIFA World Cup campaigns. Four years later, during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification, an almost identical scenario took place; the Colombian national team earned a must-needed three points after winning against Paraguay in Asunción 1–0, and if Argentina did not lose its last game against Uruguay in Montevideo, Colombia would advanced to the playoffs. However, José Pékerman's Argentina had nothing at stake, they already qualified. In a little effort match on the Argentine side, the Uruguayans, led by Jorge Fossati, won the match 1–0 with a goal by Álvaro Recoba in the 46th minute. This gave Uruguay the advantage in qualifying for playoff competition. However, Australia won the playoffs and qualified for the World Cup via penalties 4–2, after a 1–1 series draw.[40]

In the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, with Alejandro Sabella as coach and Argentina having already classified, an alternative team was placed in the last match of the campaign on 15 October 2013 against Uruguay. The Uruguayan side came out with a 3–2 victory and secured a comfortable spot to advance to playoff competition once again, this time against Jordan. Uruguay easily qualified against the Jordan national team in a 5–0 series.[41]

2018 FIFA World Cup qualification second match[edit]

A similar occurrence to that in 2002 and 2006 happened during the second matchup between Argentina and Uruguay during the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. On 31 August 2017, the match ended in a goalless draw with both teams earning one point. Unlike previous qualifications, Uruguay was in a comfortable position, entering the fifteenth round in third place, whereas Argentina was desperate to breathe life into their World Cup campaign, fighting at the playoff spot in fifth place. Before the match, Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez wore specialised shirts of their national teams to promote Argentina and Uruguay's 2030 FIFA World Cup bid; Luis Suárez's kit boasted the large number 20 on the front, while Messi's jersey featured the number 30.[42][43]

Argentine and Uruguayan journalists criticised the match, especially in the last 20 minutes, claiming that the game was all "business" and both sides didn't want to take any risks. Uruguayan newspaper El País headlined that week's newspaper as "Brothers again", stating that "there are bad draws, good draws, and also very good ones. Precisely, what occurred last night in that match falls in that last category."[44]

Notable confrontations and brawls[edit]

2019 exhibition match[edit]

On 29 November 2019, Argentina and Uruguay played an international friendly match at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel. During the second half, Lionel Messi was fouled by Matías Vecino, who reacted angrily to the challenge. Cavani then exchanged words with Messi, asking if he wanted to "fight it out," to which Messi replied, "Whenever you want." Both sides eventually brushed it off in a 2–2 draw. Both Cavani and Messi said in post-game interviews that there is no bad blood and that these are how the matches are.[45]

2022 FIFA World Cup[edit]

Although Argentina and Uruguay were ineligible to be drawn at the same group given their CONMEBOL memberships, a fight did break out, albeit involving fans. From a bus carrying Mexican fans also included a group of Uruguayan fans who later jointly sang a song "Come to see! Come to see! In the Falklands, English language is spoken", with Falklands intentionally included, sparking wrath from Argentine fans. Originally, it was believed that only Mexican fans were singing this song, but later investigation by Mexican commercial newspaper El Imparcial revealed that Uruguayans were also among the people singing it.[46]

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification scuffle[edit]

During the fifth round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification, Argentina hosted Uruguay in La Bombonera. During the 19th minute of the match, several players got into a scuffle, most notably Rodrigo De Paul and Mathías Olivera. After the two got into a heated exchange, Messi approached Olivera and grabbed him by the throat. The trio was eventually separated; Manuel Ugarte then confronted De Paul with obscene gestures. Uruguay would eventually win the match 2–0 with goals from Ronald Araújo and Darwin Núñez.[47]

Messi was asked about the confrontation in a post-game interview, stating that young players from the Uruguayan squad, particularly Ugarte, should "learn respect to their elders." but did later say that these occurrences are normal, "in these types of games, qualifiers, it's always like this with Uruguay." De Paul and Ugarte also played down the match. De Paul said, "It's dumb, whatever happened stays on the pitch.", whereas Ugarte has apologised for the gestures, claiming it was in the heat of the moment, and agreeing with De Paul's statement.[48][49][50]

Matches overview[edit]

  • As of 16 November 2023
Competition Played Arg. won Draw Uru. won Arg. goals Uru. goals
FIFA World Cup 2 1 0 1 3 4
FIFA World Cup qualification 15 8 4 3 20 11
Copa América 32 15 4 13 43 36
Summer Olympics 2 0 1 1 2 3
Subtotal 51 24 9 18 68 54
Copa Lipton 27 10 11 6 37 27
Copa Newton 27 13 6 8 49 35
Copa del Atlántico (+1976 Copa Lipton / Copa Newton) 4 4 0 0 13 2
Copa Premier Honor Uruguayo 15 4 3 8 16 26
Copa Premier Honor Argentino 12 7 2 3 21 13
Copa Héctor Rivadavia Gómez 5 2 1 2 6 8
Copa Juan Mignaburu 5 4 1 0 13 3
Copa Círculo de la Prensa[51] 3 1 0 2 10 9
Copa Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores[52] 3 0 2 1 4 5
Copa Presidente Roque Sáenz Peña[53] 2 1 1 0 3 2
Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo 1 1 0 0 4 1
Copa Montevideo[54] 1 1 0 0 3 1
Copa Cámara de Diputados Argentina[55] 1 1 0 0 2 0
Copa Centro Automovilístico Uruguayo[56] 1 0 1 0 1 1
Taça Independência 1 1 0 0 1 0
Official friendlies 30 14 9 7 47 29
Full "A" matches 189 88 46 51 298 216
Unofficial friendlies (1943-1948)[57][58] 11 5 3 3 24 22
Subtotal (AFA×AUF) 200 93 49 58 322 238
Unofficial friendlies (AUF×FAF)[59] 7 2 2 3 16 15
Copa Premier Honor Uruguayo (FUF×AAmF) 1 1 0 0 3 2
Copa Confraternidad Rioplatense (FUF×AAmF)[60] 1 0 0 1 0 1
Unofficial friendlies (AUF×AAmF)[61] 2 1 0 1 4 4
Unofficial friendly (FUF×AAmF)[62] 1 0 1 0 0 0
Total 212 97 52 63 345 260

Eliminations[edit]

List of matches[edit]

The chart includes the complete list of matches played between both teams:[3][63][64][65]

Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Not included by some historians in their records.[3]
  2. ^ a b c d The AUF did not count this match on its website.
  3. ^ a b c d Contested by teams from the dissident associations (FUF and AAmF).
  4. ^ a b The 1923 and 1924 editions of Copa Newton had the particulatiry of two matches being held on the same day, 25 May 1924. One match was held in Montevideo, and the other in Buenos Aires.[3] The match in Montevideo was considered part of the 1923 edition.[66]
  5. ^ Also held as the 1976 Copa Lipton edition.
  6. ^ Also held as the 1976 Copa Newton edition.
  7. ^ Uruguay won on penalties but result counted as a draw.

Unrecognised matches[edit]

# Date City Venue Winner Score Goals (Arg) Goals (Uru)
1[n2 1] 16 May 1901 Montevideo Albion FC Argentina
3–2
 Leslie, Dickinson, Anderson Céspedes, Poole
Notes
  1. ^ Not organised by AUF and AFA but by local club Albion.[67][68][3] Neither the AFA nor the AUF include this match in their list of internationals.[64]

Titles overview[edit]

Official competitions[edit]

Competition Argentina Uruguay
FIFA World Cup 3 2
Olympics[note 2] 0 2
World Titles 3 4
FIFA Confederations Cup 1 0
Copa América 15 15
Panamerican Championship 1 0
CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions 2 0
Total Titles 22 19
Notes
  1. ^ Note: Only the Olympic Games from 1908 to 1948 are considered official: [1].
  2. ^ Note: Only the Olympic from 1908 to 1948 are considered official: [2].

Friendly competitions[edit]

All the tournaments played between both countries exclusively:

Competition Argentina Uruguay
Copa Lipton 17 11
Copa Newton 17 11
Copa Honor Arg. 7 3
Copa Honor Uru. 5 8
Copa Mignaburu 5 0
Copa Rivadavia Gómez 3 2
Total 55 36

Clubs[edit]

Peñarol vs River Plate, 1960 Copa Libertadores Final

At club level, Argentine and Uruguayan teams always had a strong rivalry since the first international competition in Río de la Plata, the Tie Cup, was held in 1900. Other competitions played by teams from both associations include the Copa de Honor Cousenier (1905–1920) and Copa Aldao (1913–1955). Played (although irregularly) until 1955, the Copa Aldao is seen today as the first stepping-stone into the creation of Copa Libertadores, the highest level of competition in South American club football, in 1960. In 2015, CONMEBOL recognized the Aldao Cup as the first official international professional football cup in South America. By the first years of football in Río de la Plata, the more stronger sides of club football in Argentina were Rosario A.C., Belgrano A.C. and Alumni, in which they played memorable matches against Uruguayan teams CURCC, Montevideo Wanderers and Nacional.[69][70]

Argentine and Uruguayan football clubs have been very successful in both intercontinental and international levels, respectfully, throughout the history of the sport. In Argentina, the Big Five (Boca Juniors, Independiente, Racing Club de Avellaneda, River Plate, and San Lorenzo de Almagro) have been the most successful and popularly recognized football clubs since the introduction of football to the country, whereas Peñarol and Club Nacional de Football have been the most dominant clubs of Uruguay. In Argentina, as of 2024, out of the 134 editions of the Argentine Primera División, 122 of the champions were of the Big Five; River Plate (38), Boca Juniors (35), Racing Club (18), Independiente (16), and San Lorenzo (15). Peñarol and Nacional have won the Uruguayan Primera División a total of 100 times out of the league's 121 editions; Peñarol have won the league 51 times and Nacional with 49.

As of 2024, 54 of the 64 finals of the Copa Libertadores have featured an Argentine or Uruguayan club; Argentine clubs have seen 38 finals appearances, with 25 of them coming out as champions, whereas Uruguayan clubs were featured in 16 finals, winning 8 of them. The first Copa Libertadores in 1960 featured Peñarol against Club Olimpia, in which Peñarol came out victorious in a 2-1 series, led by South American football legends such as Luis Cubilla, Néstor Gonçalves, amd Alberto Spencer. Peñarol would eventually win back-to-back the following year in 1961 by defeating Palmeiras in the finals and would also reach the finals in 1962, but would fall short to Santos from a three-peat. In the 1963 edition, Boca Juniors would become the first Argentine team to reach the Copa Libertadores finals, but would also lose to Santos.

From the 1964 until the 1975 Copa Libertadores, the champions of the tournament were either an Argentine or Uruguayan club. This 11-year period would showcase Independiente's rise to dominance, as the team would win the 1964 and 1965 Copa Libertadores by defeating both Peñarol and Nacional in the finals, and would complete a four-peat by winning the 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1975 editions. This era of dominance was led by club legends that featured the likes of Ricardo Bochini, Ricardo Pavoni, and Miguel Ángel Santoro. In addition, this time period also featured Peñarol's second championship win in 1966, along with Racing Club's and Nacional's first championships in 1967 and 1971. By 1976, the first Brazilian club since Santos won in 1963 would come out as champions, as Cruzeiro narrowly defeated River Plate in a 3-2 victory. The following year, however, Boca Juniors would become champions for the first time after their defeat to Santos fourteen years prior by defeating defending champions Cruzeiro in a decisive penalty shoot-out. Boca Juniors would defend their title in the next years edition, as they defeated Deportivo Cali in a 4-0 series, but would lose to Club Olimpia in the 1979 Copa Libertadores.

The early 1980's presented Uruguayan dominance, as Nacional would win their second title in the 1980 Copa Libertadores by defeating Internacional de Porto Alegre, and Peñarol reaching the finals back-to-back in the 1982 and 1983 editions, winning the former against C.D. Cobreloa. Thereafter, Argentine and Uruguayan clubs would win the tournament on five consecutive occasions between 1984 and 1988, during which Colombian club América de Cali, considered one of the most dominant clubs of the 1980s with famous players including Argentine footballers Ricardo Gareca, Carlos Ischia and Julio Falcioni, would reach the finals on three consecutive occasions (1985, 1986, and 1987), but would lose in each one; River Plate and Peñarol would win the 1986 and 1987 editions. In the 1988 Copa Libertadores, Nacional would defeat Newell's Old Boys in the final, the first Argentine-Uruguayan final since 1970. This would be the last time a Uruguayan club, aside from Nacional's win of the 1989 Copa Interamericana against Hondurean Olimpia, would win an intercontinental or international championship as of 2024, and wouldn't be until 1994 for any Argentine club. Newell's Old Boys would appear again in the finals of the 1992 Copa Libertadores, but would come up short against São Paulo FC. In 1996 Copa Libertadores, captained by Uruguayan and club legend Enzo Francescoli, River Plate would win their second championship in a rematch with América de Cali, ten years after their 1986 encounter.

With the arrival of Carlos Bianchi in 1998, Boca Juniors established themselves as a dominant team in South American football and ushered in a golden generation that would continue onwards to the turn of the 21st Century. After winning several national competitions, led by talented footballers such as, but not limited to, Sebastián Battaglia, Óscar Córdoba, Hugo Ibarra, Martín Palermo, Juan Román Riquelme, and Carlos Tévez, the club would win the 2000 Copa Libertadores after 22 years, defeating Palmeiras in the finals by penalty-shots after two matches ended in a draw (2–2 and 0–0). Boca Juniors became champion again in 2001, defeating Cruz Azul in a penalty shootout; Boca won 1–0 the first final match in Mexico and lost the second game in La Bombonera by the same score. Two years later, they would win their 3rd title in 4 years against Santos FC, as Boca won 2–0 in Buenos Aires and 3–1 in São Paulo. Boca Juniors would reach another Copa Libertadores final in 2004, but lost to Once Caldas in penalties. However, in the 2007 Copa Libertadores, Boca Juniors would win their sixth title, defeating Grêmio FBPA in a 5-0 series.

The 2010's would see the start of Brazilian dominance in the Copa Libertadores, as since 2010, 10 of the 13 finals resulted in a Brazilian club becoming victorious. For instance, in the 2011 Copa Libertadores, Santos FC would defeat Peñarol in a 2-1 series, Peñarol's first finals appearance since 1987 and a rematch from 1962. The following year, in the 2012 Copa Libertadores, Boca Juniors would lose to Corinthians Paulista. However, San Lorenzo would become the first Argentine club since 2009 to win the tournament, as they defeated Nacional Asunción in the 2014 Copa Libertadores. The following year, River Plate, having won the 2014 Copa Sudamericana and beginning to rebuild themselves under the guidance of Marcelo Gallardo, would win the tournament by defeating Tigres UANL. Three years later, River Plate would face-off against their rivals, Boca Juniors, in the 2018 Copa Libertadores finals, which was labeled by The New York Times as the "Final to End All Finals" and the biggest game in Argentine sport history. The final was met with significant fan violence on both sides, and as a result, the second leg was played in the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid after a 2-2 draw in the first leg. River would come out victorious in a 3-1 second leg victory. River Plate would return to the finals the following year in 2019, but would lose to CR Flamengo. The 2023 Copa Libertadores final feature Boca Juniors facing off against Fluminense, but the former would lose to the Brazilian side, 2-1.

Although the Copa Sudamericana is more recent, having been inaugurated in 2002, it is still considered an important tournament in South American football. In its history, Argentine clubs have represented in the final 15 times, winning it on 9 occasions. San Lorenzo won the first edition of the tournament by defeating Atlético Nacional in a 4-0 series. River Plate were runners-up the following year, losing to Cienciano in 2003. Thereafter, Boca Juniors would win back-to-back Sudamericanas in 2004 and 2005 by defeating Club Bolívar 2-1 and Pumas UNAM on penalties, 4-3, after a 2-2 series. Independiente would win their first Sudamericana in 2010 by winning on penalties 5-3 after the series came to a draw of 3-3 against Goiás Esporte Clube. They would eventually become Sudamericana champions once again in 2017 by defeating CR Flamengo.

However, aside Argentina's Big Five, other Argentine clubs have rose to international prominence, the most notable of which includes Estudiantes de La Plata, four-time Copa Libertadores winners, having won the tournament three years in a row (1968, 1969, 1970) under the leadership of club legends Carlos Bilardo, who would guide the Argentine national team to their second FIFA World Cup in 1986, and captain Juan Ramón Verón. In 2008, Estudiantes were runners-up in the Copa Sudamericana, having lost to Internacional de Porto Alegre, but would eventually win their fourth Copa Libertadores the following year in 2009, captained by Juan Ramón's son, Juan Sebastián Verón. The club are also former intercontinental champions, defeating Manchester United in the 1968 edition of the cup, and also won the inaugural Copa Interamericana in 1969, beating CONCACAF Champions of the previous year, Deportivo Toluca F.C. In terms of national achievements, Estudiantes are six-time champions of the Argentine Primera División and have recently won several Argentine competitions such as the Copa de la Liga Profesional and the Copa Argentina.

Other Argentine clubs that have seen recent success include ten-time national league champions Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield, who, in 1994, won the Copa Libertadores against São Paulo FC and eventually defeating AC Milan in the Intercontinental Cup. Two years later, the club would win the Interamericana Cup in 1996 against C.S. Cartaginés and the Supercopa Libertadores. Argentinos Juniors are also former Copa Libertadores champions, having won the 1985 edition and eventually winning the Copa Interamericana against Defence Force F.C.

Arsenal de Sarandí, Club Atlético Lanús, and Defensa y Justicia are also former Copa Sudamericana champions, having won the title in 2007,2013, and 2020, respectively, the latter of which would also win the Recopa Sudamericana in 2020 following that year's Libertadores. Lanús have also won the 1996 Copa CONMEBOL by defeating Independiente Santa Fe in the finals and were runners-up in the 2017 Copa Libertadores. They were the runners-up in Defensa y Justicia's Sudamericana championship win in 2020. Other Argentine clubs that have seen recent accomplishments include 2012 Copa Sudamericana runners-up Club Atlético Tigre, Club Atlético Huracán, who historically have been successful on the national level and have more recently were runners-up in the 2015 Copa Sudamericana, and Club Atlético Colón who reached the finals in the 2019 Copa Sudamericana.

Although Peñarol and Nacional have always been the forefront of Uruguayan football across international competiton, no other Uruguayan clubs has won either the Copa Libertadores or the Copa Sudamericana, in part because of the two team's overwhelming support in the country. The biggest teams in the nation, aside from Peñarol and Nacional, have historically been Defensor Sporting, Danubio, and Montevideo Wanderers. Both Defensor Sporting and Danubio are four-time national league champions, whereas Montevideo Wanderers has won three. In recent years, however, clubs such as Liverpool Montevideo and Montevideo City Torque, the latter of which has been owned since April 2017 by the City Football Group, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi United Group, have seen national and international progress through it's promising academies and financial support.[71]

Club titles[edit]

The table below compares titles won by Argentine and Uruguayan clubs since the first official international competition in 1905:

Competition Argentina Uruguay
Intercontinental Cup 9 6
Copa Libertadores 25 8
Copa Sudamericana 9 0
Suruga Bank Championship 3 0
Copa Conmebol 3 0
Copa Mercosur 1 0
Supercopa Sudamericana 6 0
Recopa Sudamericana 10 1
Copa Interamericana 7 2
Copa Nicolás Leoz 1 0
Copa Master de Supercopa 1 0
Intercontinental Supercup 0 1
Tie Cup 13 6
Copa de Honor Cousenier 4 9
Copa Aldao 10 4
Total 101 37

Finals between clubs in South American competition[edit]

Competition Nationality Winner Runner-up Result
1964 Copa Libertadores Argentina Independiente Nacional 0–0, 1–0
1965 Copa Libertadores Argentina Independiente Peñarol 1–0, 1–3, 4–1
1966 Copa Libertadores Uruguay Peñarol River Plate 2–0, 2–3, 4–2
1967 Copa Libertadores Argentina Racing Club Nacional 0–0, 0–0, 2–1
1969 Copa Libertadores Argentina Estudiantes (LP) Nacional 1–0, 2–0
1970 Copa Libertadores Argentina Estudiantes (LP) Peñarol 1–0, 0–0
1971 Copa Libertadores Uruguay Nacional Estudiantes (LP) 0–1, 1–0, 2–0
1988 Copa Libertadores Uruguay Nacional Newell's Old Boys 0–1, 3–0
1989 Recopa Sudamericana Uruguay Nacional Racing Club 1–0, 0–0

Finals between clubs in Río de la Plata competitions[edit]

AFA / AUF competitions often generalized as Copas Rioplatenses were official international competitions contested only by Argentine and Uruguayan clubs before the creation of official South American club competitions by CONMEBOL. Unofficial and unfinalized editions were excluded.

The following is a list of all the matches played:

Notes
  1. ^ Title shared after both teams tied on points (2–2).

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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