Copa America: Most successful nations and winners by year
- First held in 1916, Copa America is the oldest still-running international soccer tournament
- The competition determines the champions of South America, with Asian and North American teams invited
- Eight different nations have won Copa America
By 90min
With South American flair and a host of world-class players on show, Copa America is one of the most exciting dates on the soccer calendar.
2024 Copa America is sure to be one of the most thrilling yet, with extra teams and iconic American arenas. This time around, an expanded version will see six CONCACAF nations compete alongside the 10 CONMEBOL entrants, with the United States both qualifying and hosting, joined by Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, and Jamaica.
So, as the anticipation builds, let's have a look back at the previous winners of South America's top international competition.
Who has won the Copa America the most?
Running for longer and held more regularly than other major international tournaments, there is a fairly extensive list of Copa America winners.
Argentina and Uruguay currently share the No.1 spot with 15 successes each. The former are the current holders, but that was their first title since 1993. Uruguay, meanwhile, were an early powerhouse in international soccer with two World Cups, also picking up eight of their 15 Copa Americas before the end of the Second World War.
It may surprise many to see Brazil back in third with nine titles, but six of them have come from 1989 onwards, while only Argentina (29) has contested more finals (21).
After that, it's a big drop-off with Paraguay, Peru, and Chile all on two titles. The latter won theirs back-to-back in 2015 and 2016, while the other two have gone without a Copa America trophy since 1979 and 1975, respectively.
Finally, Bolivia won the 1963 edition, while Colombia lifted the trophy for the first time in 2001.
Country | Tournaments won | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
Argentina | 15 | 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941,1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993, 2021 |
Uruguay | 15 | 1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1956, 1959, 1967, 1983, 1987, 1995, 2011 |
Brazil | 9 | 1919, 1922, 1949, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2019 |
Paraguay | 2 | 1953, 1979 |
Chile | 2 | 2015, 2016 |
Peru | 2 | 1939, 1975 |
Bolivia | 1 | 1963 |
Colombia | 1 | 2001 |
Full list of Copa America winners
Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil have traditionally dominated Copa America, but other nations have been unlucky in multiple finals.
Year | Host nation | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
1916 | Argentina | Uruguay | Argentina |
1917 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Argentina |
1919 | Brazil | Brazil | Uruguay |
1920 | Chile | Uruguay | Argentina |
1921 | Argentina | Argentina | Brazil |
1922 | Brazil | Brazil | Paraguay |
1923 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Argentina |
1924 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Argentina |
1925 | Argentina | Argentina | Brazil |
1926 | Chile | Uruguay | Argentina |
1927 | Peru | Argentina | Uruguay |
1929 | Argentina | Argentina | Paraguay |
1935 | Peru | Uruguay | Argentina |
1937 | Argentina | Argentina | Brazil |
1939 | Peru | Peru | Uruguay |
1941 | Chile | Argentina | Uruguay |
1942 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Argentina |
1945 | Chile | Argentina | Brazil |
1946 | Argentina | Argentina | Brazil |
1947 | Ecuador | Argentina | Paraguay |
1949 | Brazil | Brazil | Paraguay |
1953 | Peru | Paraguay | Brazil |
1955 | Chile | Argentina | Chile |
1956 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Chile |
1957 | Peru | Argentina | Brazil |
1959 | Argentina | Argentina | Brazil |
1959 | Ecuador | Uruguay | Argentina |
1963 | Bolivia | Bolivia | Paraguay |
1967 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Argentina |
1975 | Home-and-away | Peru | Colombia |
1979 | Home-and-away | Paraguay | Chile |
1983 | Home-and-away | Uruguay | Brazil |
1987 | Argentina | Uruguay | Chile |
1989 | Brazil | Brazil | Uruguay |
1991 | Chile | Argentina | Brazil |
1993 | Ecuador | Argentina | Mexico |
1995 | Uruguay | Uruguay | Brazil |
1997 | Bolivia | Brazil | Bolivia |
1999 | Paraguay | Brazil | Uruguay |
2001 | Colombia | Colombia | Mexico |
2004 | Peru | Brazil | Argentina |
2007 | Venezuela | Brazil | Argentina |
2011 | Argentina | Uruguay | Paraguay |
2015 | Chile | Chile | Argentina |
2016 | United States | Chile | Argentina |
2019 | Brazil | Brazil | Peru |
2021 | Brazil | Argentina | Brazil |
Who has scored the most Copa America goals?
Given the frequency of early Copa America competitions and just how long the tournament has run, it's probably no surprise to see some unfamiliar names among the top scorers.
Of course, there is one name you'll definitely recognize...
Player | Country | Goals |
|---|---|---|
Norberto Mendez | Argentina | 17 |
Zizinho | Brazil | 17 |
Lolo Fernandez | Peru | 15 |
Severino Varela | Uruguay | 15 |
Paolo Guerrero | Peru | 14 |
Eduardo Vargas | Chile | 14 |
Ademir | Brazil | 13 |
Lionel Messi | Argentina | 13 |
Gabriel Batistuta | Argentina | 13 |
Jair | Brazil | 13 |
Jose Manuel Moreno | Argentina | 13 |
Hector Scarone | Uruguay | 13 |
Players in bold are still active.
When did the Copa America begin?
The first edition of Copa America was held way back in 1916, making it much older even than the World Cup or UEFA European Championship -- founded in 1930 and 1958, respectively.
Copa America was borne out of the rapid increase in popularity of soccer in South America in the period between the very first team -- Lima Cricket and Football Club in Peru -- being established in 1859 and an international tournament between hosts Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay in 1910 to commemorate the centenary of the May Revolution.
Argentina hosted another tournament named the 'Campeonato Sudamericano de Football' in 1916 between themselves, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. This would go on to be recognized by CONMEBOL as the very first Copa America.
The competition has grown considerably from there and the latest edition in the United States this summer will be the 48th Copa America.
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