History has been made at the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2025, with all eight teams in the quarter-finals being former winners for the first time in the competition’s history.
A thrilling round of matches has resulted in Estudiantes de La Plata, CR Flamengo, LDU Quito, SE Palmeiras, Racing, CA River Plate, Sao Paulo FC and Velez Sarsfield progressing to the final eight. The winners of this year’s South American showpiece will qualify for the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2025™.
Ahead of the quarter-finals, FIFA takes a look at eight standout performances from the Libertadores last 16.
Rafael (Sao Paulo)
Rogerio Ceni is perhaps the most iconic player in the club’s history, having the memorable chant that used to ring around the Estadio do Morumbi: “Everyone has a keeper, only we have Rogerio.” Since his retirement in 2015, though, no one has done a better job of protecting the Sao Paulo goal than Rafael.
The Tricolor keeper was pivotal in his side’s tie with Atletico Nacional, facing a total of eight penalties across the two legs (three in normal time and five in the shootout) with only four of them finding the back of his net.
Jano Gordon (Velez Sarsfield)
Under heavy rain at the Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Velez Sarsfield were 1-0 up against Fortaleza and the Brazilian side were trying to put the pressure on them midway into the first half – that was when a clever piece of play from Jano Gordon settled the tie in Buenos Aires.
Gordon was ready to pounce on a misplaced pass from Deyverson before charging forward and finding Tomas Galvan in the box, who doubled his side’s lead and secured their quarter-final place.
Adrian Martinez (Racing)
Adrian ‘Maravilla’ Martínez has been instrumental in the Racing front line since their successful run in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana and, subsequently, the CONMEBOL Recopa. Much to the delight of the Racing fans, he continued his goal-scoring form against Penarol. His brace in the return leg helped his side to a 3-1 win on the night and a 3-2 win on aggregate, enough to see them through to the quarter-finals.
Santiago Ascacibar (Estudiantes)
Estudiantes were awarded a penalty in stoppage time in their first leg in Paraguay. With so much at stake, their captain stepped up and put the ball under his arm, showing that he was ready to take charge of the situation. That penalty, placed down the middle of the Cerro Porteno goal, was enough to give the Argentinian side a 1-0 aggregate win and a place in the last eight.
Jorginho (Flamengo)
Jorginho’s first ever experiences of the Libertadores came in the two legs of Flamengo’s all-Brazilian tie with Internacional in the last 16. Based on his performances, he took to the competition with ease.
The Italian-Brazilian defensive midfielder was at the heart of two dominant Flamengo performances, which they won 1-0 and 2-0. The Rubro-negro were rarely troubled by their opponents over the two legs as they showed why they are fancied as one of the favourites for the competition. The addition of Jorginho into the midfield has only increased their chances of going all the way.
Lisandro Alzugaray (LDU Quito)
Ecuador’s LDU Quito travelled to Rio de Janeiro for the first leg and lost 1-0 to Botafogo, however the second leg would go on to be a historic night for the club. The current holders travelled to Ecuador for the all-important second leg and were beaten 2-0, with LDU overturning the deficit in large part down to Lisandro Alzugaray.
The forward provided the assist for the first goal, which was put away on seven minutes by Gabriel Villamil, before converting a penalty in the second half to complete the comeback.
Vitor Roque (Palmeiras)
Vitor Roque seemed to be everywhere for Palmeiras as they put the tie to bed in the first leg, seeing off Universitario with a 4-0 win. Roque scored one, assisted one and won his side a penalty. Partnering with Flaco Lopez, the ‘Little Tiger’, as he is known, proved to be too much for their opponents as they all but guaranteed their place in the quarter-finals in Peru, before confirming it with a goalless draw at home in which they were never really troubled.
Franco Armani (River Plate)
River Plate needed a helping hand from goalkeeper Franco Armani in their last-16 tie. They took the lead in the second leg, however they were held to a draw in Buenos Aires by Libertad, having had a player sent off early in the second half. The tie had to be decided from 12 yards, and Armani managed to save one of the Libertad penalties and help his side progress to the next round.
