1962 Copa Libertadores
The 1962 Copa de Campeones de América was the third edition of South America's premier club football tournament, the Copa de Campeones or better known today as the Copa Libertadores. Ten teams entered, one more than the previous season, with Venezuela again not sending a representative. This was the first edition in which the defending champions were allowed to automatically qualify allowing the nation which contained the holders to have an extra team on the tournament.
Arguably, the competition took transcendental international projection from this edition due to the participation of Santos. The constant exhibitions of the Santásticos, containing in its ranks the legendary and magnificent Pelé and compatriots of equal stature such as the chivalric Gilmar, Mauro, Mengálvio, the splendid Coutinho, and the iconic Pepe, were every week news in the world and, inevitably, every corner of the world talked about the Copa de Campeones competition that Santos won in 1962. Santos ended the Carboneros' reign as they defeated Peñarol 0-3 in the deciding playoff in Buenos Aires.
Read more about 1962 Copa Libertadores: Qualified Teams, Format and Tie-breaking Criteria, First Round, Semifinals, Finals, Champion, Top Goalscorers, Footnotes