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
Argentina ended an 18-year wait for a Copa America title in 2021
Argentina ended an 18-year wait for a Copa America title in 2021 / Buda Mendes/GettyImages
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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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