The Dominant Sides who rule certain decades in South America

 

A number of clubs have managed to rule certain decades in South American football history, including the two current Copa Libertadores finalists. 

The Copa Libertadores 2025 final has finally seen two teams meeting at the summit. It is yet again the encounter of two Brazilian sides in the final, which is already the fifth in the last seven editions. Palmeiras and Flamengo face off again in the final, which is the repeat of the 2021 edition. At that time, the Sao Paulo-based side managed to thump their local rival 2-1. 

Will the result be the same in Abel Ferreira’s favour, or will it be Felipe Luis’s men who lift the trophy this year? The champion will be decided in Estadio Monumental in Lima, Peru, on November 29th. 

One thing for sure about this year’s final is the clash of two teams which have the potential to rule the decade in the competition. Palmeiras and Flamengo both have won the title twice since the introduction of the single-leg final in 2019, which also marked the Brazilian domination in Copa Libertadores. 

Palmeiras did it in 2020 and 2021. This year’s edition is their third final in six years. On the other hand, the 2025 final is their fourth final. They secured the title in 2019 and 2022 but were beaten in 2021. No wonder that this could be a decisive encounter to determine the ruler of the decade in CONMEBOL’s top-flight club competition. 

Prior to Palmeiras and Flamengo, there surely have been several teams which dominated the top-tier competition in South America, including in Copa Libertadores. Here are those teams which once became the ruler of the decade.

Magallanes (1930s) - Chilean top flight

Club Deportes Magallanes might only be a team in the second tier of the Chilean football league system, but in the early days of the national top flight, they were the dominant side. The San Bernardo-based club won four league titles in the 1930s; three of them were in a row, 1933, 1934 and 1935, plus another one in 1938. Magallanes also became the runner-up in 1936 and 1937.

The club’s last silverware was actually not so long ago. They snatched the Supercopa Chile in 2023 after winning an unusual domestic double, the Primera B league title (second division) and Copa Chile 2022. 

Peñarol (1960s) - Copa Libertadores

The Uruguayan giant ruled the continent back in the 1960s. They clinched Copa Libertadores three times (1960, 1961 and 1966), were runners-up three times (1962, 1965 and 1970), lifted the Intercontinental Cup twice (1961 and 1966) and won the Intercontinental Champions Super Cup in 1969. 

Unfortunately, Penarol have yet to be able to replicate their dominance in the continent ever since. Their last continental title was already in the late 1980s, when they managed to secure Copa Libertadores 1987. 

Santos (1960s) – Brazilian top flight

Santos had their glory days in the 1960s, especially in the domestic top flight with their legendary star, Pelé, in the squad. They won five league titles consecutively in that decade (1961-1965), plus two Intercontinental Cups (1962 and 1968), the Intercontinental Champions Super Cup 1968 and eight regional titles (Campeonato Paulista). 

However, Neymar’s current team has been struggling to even compete at the top level. They just returned to the Brazilian Serie A in 2024 after suffering their first-ever relegation in 2023. Their last national title was Copa do Brasil in 2010. 

America de Cali (1980s to early 1990s) – Colombian top flight

América de Cali was the dominant side in Colombian top flight back in the 1980s up to the early 1990s. Under the tutelage of Gabriel Ochoa Uribe, they clinched seven league titles; five of them were snatched in a row (1982-1986), plus two more titles in 1990 and 1992. Uribe also brought them to the Copa Libertadores final three times consecutively from 1985 to 1987. Unfortunately, they were beaten by their Argentine and Uruguayan counterparts in the summit. 

The club’s last major title was in 2020. That was when they snatched their last top-flight trophy or their 15th title in total. They have yet to be able to be the dominant force they once were so far. 

Velez Sarsfield (1990s) - Argentina top flight

The 2024 Argentina Primera Division champion was once the ruler in the national top flight back in the 1990s. They were led by the legendary gaffer, Carlos Bianchi, who delivered four league titles (1993 Clausura, 1995 Apertura, 1996 and 1998 Clausura), plus the Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup 1994. With Jose Luis Chilavert in the squad, Velez managed to thump AC Milan 2-0 in Tokyo, marking their best performance to date. 

Boca Juniors (2000s) - Copa Libertadores

Boca Juniors was the next Argentine side which dominated the era back in the 2000s. Under Carlos Bianchi, Boca turned into a continental giant with four Copa Libertadores titles (2000, 2001, 2003 and 2008), plus being a finalist once in 2004. 

The Argentine top team also managed to snatch the Intercontinental Cup twice under Bianchi. It was in the 2000 and 2003 editions where Juan Roman Riquelme, Martin Palermo, Pato Abbondanzieri and Carlos Tevez were still part of the squad. 

Universidad de Catolica (2010s to early 2020s) – Chilean top flight

In the Chilean top flight, another club became the decade ruler besides Magallanes. Universidad Catolica reached the same height in the 2010s. They were able to win five league titles (2010, 2016 Clausura and Apertura, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021) plus four Supercopa Chile in 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Unfortunately, that is their last silverware to date. The arch rival of Universidad de Chile has been part of the national top-flight history alongside due to their long history of rivalry.