MIAMI.- Just days before starting another edition of the Copa América, the soccer tournament oldest regional tournament in the world and third oldest in total, only behind the now defunct British Home Championship and the Olympic Games football tournament, Lionel Messi's Argentina could become the biggest winner of the event.
In 2021, the albiceleste, led by whom many consider the best player in the history of the sport, lifted its 14th trophy to equal Uruguay at the top of the teams that have conquered America the most times.
Ángel Di María's goal, in the final against Brazil, was enough for the Argentines to celebrate the Copa América 28 years later.
The other titles of the albiceleste were achieved in the editions of: 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1991.
Uruguay, the first champion
The charrúas, who were the first champions of the regional tournament, seek to return to the lead in this edition.
Uruguay won its first Copa América title in 1916, but then the tournament was seen as the South American National Team Championship, and it was not until 1975 when it changed to its current name of Copa América.
In that first stage of the tournament, Uruguay won 11 of its titles: 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1956, 1959 and 1967.
Already under the name of Copa América, the Charrúas shone in the 1983, 1987, 1995 and 2011 editions. They have already gone almost three decades without winning, so they can appear as favorites with their strength for this edition.
How many titles does Brazil have?
Although Brazil is the top winner in World Cups, in the Copa América it is in third place with nine titles. The last time the Brazilians won the title was in 2019.
Unlike the Uruguayans, the Brazilians have been more winners in the second stage of the tournament. In addition to their most recent title, they also conquered America in 1989, 1997, 1999, 2004 and 2007.
The other three times they won the trophy were in the 1919, 1922 and 1949 editions.
Other Copa America champions
Chile has won the tournament twice (2015 and 2016), the same times as Paraguay (1953 and 1979) and Peru (1939 and 1975).
Colombia has only achieved one title, in 2001, and Bolivia was the American champion in 1963.
Venezuela and Concacaf without shining
The Venezuelan team is the only one of the 10 Conmebol teams that have not managed to win the Copa América and have never gone to a World Cup either.
Likewise, the tournament has been open to Concacaf members since 1993 but none of its representatives have been able to succeed. Will this be the year in which the list adds a new champion? The answer will be known on July 14 in Miami.