From 1998 to 2016, Liga MX clubs were invited to participate in CONMEBOL’s Copa Libertadores, sending 2–3 teams each year, and for three years also appearing in the Copa Sudamericana. While Mexican teams never won the tournament, they left a mark: Chivas Guadalajara reached the final in 2010, Cruz Azul (2001) and Tigres (2015) did the same.
Now, with Brazilian clubs dominating the competition, five all-Brazilian finals in the last six editions, fans and commentators are asking: could the return of Liga MX clubs restore more excitement and balanced competition to the Libertadores?
Brazil’s Recent Domination of the Copa Libertadores
The recent era of the Libertadores has been firmly dominated by Brazilian football. Since the switch to single-match finals in 2019, all seven Libertadores champions have been Brazilian, and five of the last seven finals were contested exclusively by Brazilian sides. Palmeiras and Flamengo will meet in the 2025 final, both clubs chasing their third Libertadores title in recent years and signaling the depth of talent in the Brasileirão.
Brazilian clubs today combine experienced South American talent with players returning from Europe, as well as rising young stars. For example, Palmeiras fields veterans like Felipe Anderson and Andreas Pereira, alongside rising talent Vitor Roque and Argentine international Jose Manuel “Flaco” Lopez. Meanwhile, Flamengo mixes international experience from the Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga— Jorginho, Emerson Royal, Samuel Lino — with academy graduates. This blend allows them to compete both domestically and internationally at a high level.
The financial muscle behind these clubs is also significant. Private equity, wealthy owners, and strategic sponsorships allow Brazilian teams to attract top talent, while maintaining competitive balance within the league. Players from abroad like Memphis Depay (Corinthians) and Martin Braithwaite (Gremio) continue to find moments to shine, and stadiums across Brazil remain packed, signaling both passion and commercial health. The Brasileirão has evolved into a league that is both competitive and financially credible, which reinforces Brazilian dominance in continental tournaments.
The Continental Gap
Outside Brazil, the picture is more fragmented. Argentina still produces competitive clubs, but even their iconic teams have struggled to challenge Brazilian supremacy consistently. River Plate and Boca Juniors, historically dominant in the Libertadores, have recently failed to make a significant impact. River Plate missed the knockout stages in recent Club World Cup competition despite an expensive squad (and lost to Palmeiras in the Libertadores), while Boca Juniors went winless on the international stage. Other countries — Uruguay (Penarol), Chile (Colo-Colo), Colombia (Atletico Nacional), Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru — occasionally produce standout performances, but budgetary constraints, infrastructure limitations, and player retention issues prevent sustained success.
Ecuador has offered some optimism, with LDU Quito reaching the semifinals in 2025 and clubs like Independiente del Valle performing well in Sudamericana competitions. Still, when facing top Brazilian opposition, these teams often fall short due to depth and experience gaps. Colombian clubs like Atlético Nacional, the last non-Brazilian/Argentine team to win the Libertadores in 2016, have struggled to replicate that success consistently as they fell to Racing Club and Sao Paulo in tough defeats in recent editions of the Libertadores, underscoring the growing and unchecked imbalance in South American football.
The Mexican Connection
Liga MX occupies a unique position in Latin American football. Though imperfect, it boasts financial resources capable of matching Brazil’s best. Seven Mexican clubs have transfermarkt values exceeding €50 million, with top teams like Club América and Tigres competing at a level comparable to Brazilian heavyweights. By contrast, only five Argentine clubs reach similar valuations, and few other countries approach that scale.
Historically, Mexican clubs have demonstrated they can compete at high levels in South America. Chivas’ run to the 2010 final and Tigres run to the 2015 final remains a landmark achievements, demonstrating Liga MX clubs could challenge established Libertadores powers. More recently, Monterrey advanced in the FIFA Club World Cup against intercontinental opposition, showing the talent is still there. Liga MX clubs also have pursued a similar transfer policy as the Brazilian giants, and the clubs have attracted known stars like James Rodriguez, Angel Correa, and Allan Saint-Maximin
Beyond the pitch, Liga MX enjoys a massive dual-market presence: its home country of Mexico and the Mexican-American diaspora in the United States. Leagues Cup matches with MLS have had mixed results commercially, but tv ratings in the United States are strong and even friendlies consistently draw large crowds, which is why Liga MX simply can’t quit their, at times strained relationship with MLS and the United States.
Challenges for a Return
Despite historical success and financial strength, returning Mexican clubs to the Libertadores is unlikely in the near term. Logistical and scheduling obstacles remain significant: Liga MX teams already face extensive midweek travel for CONCACAF Champions Cup matches. Traveling to South America for Libertadores fixtures — particularly to high-altitude venues in Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia — would impose even greater physical and operational burdens.
Commercial alignment is another hurdle. Past disagreements between CONMEBOL and Liga MX over broadcast rights, sponsorship revenues, and tournament organization have never been fully resolved. Additionally, fan violence and stadium security continue to pose risks, as demonstrated by incident this year in Argentina when traveling Chilean fans were involved in a violent clash.
Even though the CONCACAF Champions Cup, while important for regional prestige, does not carry the commercial weight, global visibility, or competitive intensity of the Libertadores, it still has significant commercial upside with better marketing due to the U.S. market access, while the Libertadores remains very Brazil dependent.
Looking Ahead: A Nostalgic Dream
Fans can still dream of seeing historic matchups like Chivas vs. Flamengo or Tigres vs. River Plate in the modern Libertadores. Mexican clubs have proven they can compete with top South American sides, and their presence would undoubtedly inject excitement, financial value, and narrative drama into the tournament.
But for now, these dreams remain largely nostalgic or confined to tournaments like the FIFA Intercontinental Cup where Pachuca beat Botafogo 3-0 last year. Brazilian dominance continues, operational and financial realities make a return challenging, and CONMEBOL and CONCACAF priorities diverge. Even so, the history of Mexican participation, reminds fans of what was possible and what might one day return if CONEMBOL and CONCACAF took the concept of their joint Copa America and decided to combine forces to compete with UEFA’S Champions League.
Until that day comes, the Libertadores remains the stage where Brazilian clubs reign supreme, Argentine clubs fight to reclaim past glory, and the rest of the continent struggles to close the gap. Mexican teams’ legacy endures, a testament to competitive ambition and the enduring appeal of cross-confederation drama. The question remains: does the Libertadores need Mexico back to restore its continental intrigue and raise the competitive level? For fans, it is a dream worth remembering, if unlikely to return anytime soon.
Main Photo Credit: Imago Images xJosexHernandezx
