Author: Vishwajit Sawant
The stage is set for an electrifying clash in the final of the Conmebol Libertadores, scheduled for November 4 at 5pm Brasília time at the iconic Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janeiro. This much-anticipated match will be broadcast live on Globo, ESPN and Conmebol TV, promising a captivating spectacle for soccer fans around the world.
Fluminense secured their place in the final with a spirited performance in the semi-final, beating Internacional 2-1 in the second leg. Boca Juniors, on the other hand, secured their place in the final in dramatic fashion, eliminating Palmeiras in a penalty shootout at Allianz Parque.
Note that for the FIRST TIME in the history of the tournament, the finalist will play the decisive match in their home stadium.
- Fluminense have only reached the final once, losing on penalties in 2008.
- Boca have won the trophy six times (1977, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007) and lost in the final five more times (1963, 1979, 2004, 2012, 2018).
The stakes are not only high in terms of glory, but also in terms of monetary rewards. The Libertadores prize values for each stage of the tournament are substantial, with the champion able to win up to US$28.05 million (approximately R$147.5 million) in accumulated prizes. The prize distribution includes US$3 million for the group stage, with an additional US$300,000 per win.
The final offers US$1.25 million, while the quarter-finals and semi-finals offer US$1.7 million and US$2.3 million respectively. The runner-up will receive a substantial US$7 million, but the final prize of US$18 million will go to the champion.