Top 5 countries with the most Copa America titles 

Argentina won the 2021 Copa America
Argentina won the 2021 Copa America

#3 Brazil - 9 titles (12 runners-up)

Brazil won their most recent Copa America in 2019
Brazil won their most recent Copa America in 2019

Brazil are by far the most popular and successful national team in the history of football. The distinct yellow and blue jersey associated with the Samba Boys has wowed and captivated several generations of football fans over the years.

The country is famed for being something of a conveyor belt for world-class football talent. Some of the very greatest names in footballing history have come from the home of the Maracana.

Perhaps a bit surprisingly, Brazil are not as dominant on the South American continent as they are in other competitions. A large reason for this has to do with the topsy-turvy history of the Copa America, as well as cumbersome logistical issues.

The Selecao pulled out of nine previous tournaments, while they have also regularly sent B-teams to dispute the Copa America in the past.

Nevertheless, Brazil still have a respectable total of nine Copa America titles, with five of these coming since 1997. Furthermore, the five-time world champions have finished as runners-up on 12 occasions, with the most recent coming on home soil in the latest edition of the tournament in 2021.


Also See: Seven greatest Brazilian defenders of all time


#2 Uruguay - 15 titles (6 runners-up)

Uruguay are 15-time champions of the Copa America
Uruguay are 15-time champions of the Copa America

Uruguay cemented their place in footballing history by winning the gold medal in football at the Olympics in 1924, as well as the first-ever FIFA World Cup in 1930.

Since then, La Celeste have gone on to become one of the most successful men's teams on the international stage. They have two World Cup triumphs, as well as 15 Copa America titles to their names.

Their success is belied by the fact that Uruguay is an extremely small nation with an estimated population of just 3.4 million. They are the least-populated country to have won a World Cup and one of the seven least-populated nations to have qualified for the mundial.

Uruguay enjoyed immense success in the early editions of the Copa America but have hit a dry patch in recent years as Brazil began to take the tournament more seriously.

In total, they have won the Copa America 15 times, with their most recent triumph coming in 2011. They have also finished as losing finalists on six occasions.


#1 Argentina - 15 titles (14 runners-up)

Argentina are defending champions of the Copa America
Argentina are defending champions of the Copa America

Argentina have a curious history with the Copa America, in that they have been crowned champions almost as many times as they have been losing finalists.

The country is famous for giving the world two of the greatest players to ever grace a field - Diego Maradaona and Lionel Messi. Whereas the former never got his hands on the continental crown, the latter ended decades of heartbreak with his triumph at the Maracana in 2021.

Argentina's narrow victory over Brazil in the tempestuous 2021 Copa final brought to an end a staggering 28-year wait for major honors for the football-obsessed country.

It also saw Messi lift a maiden international trophy, the previous lack of which many saw as a major blot on his otherwise immaculate career.

Prior to victory at the Maracana, Argentina last lifted the Copa America in 1993, before a testing run of four final defeats (three of which included Lionel Messi).


Also See: Brazil vs Argentina: All-time combined XI

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Edited by Samya Majumdar
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