2024 Copa Libertadores history: Botafogo's breakthrough

The 2024 copa libertadores history of South American club soccer runs from a tournament full of drama to a final that delivered Botafogo’s first continental crown. It began on 6 February and ended on 30 November 2024, with 47 teams from the 10 CONMEBOL member associations chasing the 65th edition of the competition.

How the tournament unfolded

The 2024 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores was the 65th edition of the tournament, and it moved through months of knockout tension before reaching Buenos Aires. The final was confirmed at Estadio Monumental on 4 October 2024, and the title match was eventually played there in Argentina.

Fluminense entered as the defending champions, but their run ended in the quarter-finals against Atlético Mineiro. That opened the path to a final that had a very different feel from the previous year’s last match, with Botafogo and Atlético Mineiro meeting for the trophy at Estadio Monumental.

The tragedy that marked the edition

This Libertadores was also marked by the death of Juan Izquierdo during a round of 16 match against São Paulo. He collapsed on the pitch due to cardiac arrhythmia and died at the hospital five days after the incident.

That match became one of the defining moments of the tournament for reasons far beyond the scoreline. The incident happened in the middle of a competition that already carried the usual pressure of continental knockout soccer, and the loss of Izquierdo gave the edition a painful place in its history.

Botafogo’s first continental title

Botafogo won their first Copa Libertadores title by defeating Atlético Mineiro 3–1 in the final. The match was decided at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and it ended with a scoreline that gave Botafogo a long-awaited breakthrough on South America’s biggest club stage.

The final had an immediate turning point: Gregore received a straight red card 29 seconds into the match. Even so, Botafogo finished the job. Júnior Santos scored in the 97th minute to seal the victory, and that goal also confirmed him as the competition’s top scorer with ten goals.

Luiz Henrique was elected MVP of the final and of the tournament, adding an individual honor to Botafogo’s title run. His recognition came after a campaign that ended with the club lifting the trophy for the first time in its history.

What the title sent Botafogo into next

Winning the 2024 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores sent Botafogo into several major competitions. As champions, they earned a place in the 2025 Recopa Sudamericana against the winners of the 2024 Copa Sudamericana.

They also automatically qualified for the 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup, the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and the 2025 Copa Libertadores group stage. Those rewards turned the final in Buenos Aires into more than a single-night victory; it opened multiple paths for the club after the tournament.

Why the 2024 edition stands out

The 2024 Copa Libertadores combined a first-time champion, a top scorer who delivered in the 97th minute, and a final that was first confirmed for Estadio Monumental on 4 October 2024. It was also the first Copa Libertadores final hosted in Argentina since the finals have been played as single matches.

Between the 47 teams, the quarter-final exit of the defending champions, and the loss of Juan Izquierdo, the tournament carried several layers of importance. Botafogo’s 3–1 win over Atlético Mineiro closed the edition with a debut title, a golden boot-level scoring mark, and a place in the next round of continental and global competitions.

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