The Top 10 South American Football Teams
So Paulo Futebol Clube, also known as Sao Paulo FC, is unquestionably the greatest Latin American football club of all time.
This club had won 22 league championships as of 2022. Additionally, this club has won six Brasileiro and three Copa Libertadores championships.
Both Club Atlético Independiente of Argentina and Atlético Nacional of Colombia deserve mention among the top South American football clubs.
It may lack the prestige and power of European clubs, but it is a breeding ground for talent.
They have been a consistent source of talent for the world’s most prestigious clubs.
- Santos – Brazil
Brazilian Santos occupies the tenth spot on the list of the ten best South American football clubs.
Santos is one of Brazil’s most historic and successful clubs, having won the domestic championship eight times, the Copa Libertadores three times, and the Copa de Brasil once.
In addition, Brazil has produced some of the greatest footballers of all time, such as Pele, Robinho, and Neymar.
Despite Neymar’s departure to Barcelona, the team still possesses enough young talent to compete with the best in Brazil.
- Corinthians versus Brazil
In the top ten best South American football clubs, Corinthians of Brazil is ranked ninth.
Also in Brazil, Corinthians is currently the largest club. And the silverware in their cabinet certainly demonstrates this.
This club has won seven Brasileirao titles, four Libertadores titles, and the FIFA World Club Cup (by defeating Chelsea in the finals).
Numerous famous players have worn these colors, including Carlos Tevez, Ronaldo, Javier Mascherano, and Socrates.
Argentina’s River Plate
River Plate of Argentina is ranked eighth among the best ten South American football clubs.
River Plate is the most successful club in Latin America with 36 league titles and four Libertadores, but they have not had much success in the last decade.
River Plate is now a fallen giant that has sent numerous talented players to Europe, including Ortega, Saviola, Crespo, and others.
Despite the fact that di Stefano began his career here, he went on to become a global celebrity.
Argentine club Boca Juniors
Seventh among the top ten best football clubs in South America is the Argentine club Boca Juniors.
River has won 33 league titles, whereas River’s archrivals, Boca Juniors, have won an impressive number of titles.
Nonetheless, with four Libertadores, they have excelled on the continental stage.
The International Federation of Football History and Statistics has named them the best South American team of the 21st century.
Burdisso, Tevez, Palacio, and the great Maradona have all originated from this city throughout the years.
- Penarol – Uruguay
Sixth among the top ten best football clubs in South America is the Uruguayan team Penarol.
Penarol has been a dominant force in Uruguayan football, having won fifty league titles and five Copa Libertadores.
Despite their long history, Penarol has not won a continental championship since 1987 (they finished second to Santos in 2011), so they are in a slump.
Ghiggia, who scored the game-winning goal against Brazil in the 1950 World Cup to eliminate them, is without a doubt the most well-known player associated with Penarol.
- Colo-Colo – Chile
Colo-Colo of Chile is ranked fifth among the best ten South American football clubs.
Colo-illustrious Colo’s history includes 32 league championships, 11 cup victories, and one Libertadores trophy. The club is regarded as one of the best in Chile.
Colo-Colo, a formidable club that plays the style of fast, attacking football favored by Chile, has been instrumental in the development of a great deal of local talent for the national team.
- Olimpia – Paraguay
Among the top ten best football clubs in South America, Olimpia of Paraguay is ranked fourth.
Similar to the other teams on the list, Olimpia has a storied past. It has won 43 league titles in addition to three Libertadores.
In 1979, the club achieved its greatest level of success by winning the League, Libertadores, Copa Interamericana, and Intercontinental Cup.
Roque Santa Cruz, the current captain of the national team and the team’s leading scorer, is the country’s most renowned export.
- Atletico Nacional – Colombia
The Colombian club Atletico Nacional is ranked third among the ten best football teams in South America.
Their recent performance surge has resulted in seven league titles in the last ten years.
And it elevated the club to the ranks of major Latin American football powers.
The club is best known as the birthplace of legendary goalkeeper Rene Higuita, who was known for his dribbling and sweeping style despite being a goalkeeper.
- Independiente – Argentina
Among the top ten best South American football clubs, Independiente of Argentina is ranked second.
It has won 16 Primera Division titles and 9 National Cups, making it one of the most historic clubs in Argentina.
They also captured seven Copa Libertadores (a record number of times and the only club to win it four times in a row).
Independiente has won the Copa Interamericana on three separate occasions, the Supercopa Sudamericana twice, the Intercontinental Cup twice, and the Recopa Sudamericana once.
Its silverware alone makes it the most significant club in Argentina.
However, it has recently declined to the point of relegation and has since recovered under the leadership of Hugo Moyano.
And it’s starting to look as menacing as it did in its heyday.
- Sao Paulo – Brazil
Among the top ten best football clubs in South America, Sao Paulo from Brazil is ranked first.
Sao Paulo is the undisputed powerhouse of Latin American football.
It is also one of the five clubs in Brazil that have never been relegated.
It has won 22 league titles, 6 Brasileirao titles, 3 Copa Libertadores titles, and 1 Copa Sudamericana title.
In addition, they won a Libertadores Supercopa, a FIFA World Club Cup, two intercontinental cups, and a Copa CONMEBOL.
This club has won two Recopa Sudamericana titles and one Copa Masters CONMEBOL title.
In addition to these trophies, it is the second most financially valuable team in Brazil.