CONMEBOL–UEFA Finalissima is one of the most exciting football events in the world, where champions from two of the strongest continents face each other in a single dramatic match. In this article Ok9 will explore the history, regulations, featured matches and future prospects of this tournament.
History of the formation of CONMEBOL–UEFA Finalissima
The tournament originated in the 1980s, when it was known as the European/South American Nations Cup or the Artemio Franchi Cup – named after former UEFA president Artemio Franchi, who died in a car accident in 1983. The original idea Ok9 thể thao was to create a club equivalent of the Copa Intercontinental, with the winners of the Euros and Copa América competing to establish continental status.
The tournament was first held in 1985, with France (1984 Euro champions) and Uruguay (1983 Copa América champions). It was then held just once more in 1993 between Argentina and Denmark, before being interrupted due to a tight schedule and historical issues.
In 2016, CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez proposed the idea of hosting a friendly between the Copa América Centenario and Euro 2016 winners, but it was not until 2021 that a formal agreement was signed between the two confederations, leading to the revival of the tournament under a new name: CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, or more commonly Finalissima (meaning “grand final” in Italian).
The return is part of a memorandum of understanding between CONMEBOL and UEFA, which aims to promote men’s and women’s football globally, including matches at various age levels. Since then, the Finalissima has become a quadrennial event, taking place after each Euro and Copa América.
Finalissima rules and competition format
The Finalissima is a single-elimination match, without home and away legs, similar to a final. The participants are the winners of the most recent UEFA European Championship (Euro) and Copa América. The match is usually held at a neutral venue, with major stadiums in Europe or South America preferred to attract a global audience.
The trophy is 45cm high and weighs 8.5kg, with a design that symbolizes the connection between the two continents: two clasped hands representing CONMEBOL and UEFA, accompanied by ribbons in the colors of the participating teams. The winning team receives the main trophy and a smaller replica, along with attractive financial rewards. The tournament is officially recognized by FIFA, and it usually takes place during the June international break, avoiding conflicts with other major tournaments.
CONMEBOL–UEFA Finalissima Highlights
Although there are only three official matches, each Finalissima brings memorable moments, bringing together superstars like Lionel Messi, Ángel Di María or young talents from Europe.
First match: France 2-0 Uruguay (1985)
Taking place at the Parc des Princes (Paris, France), the host team France under Michel Platini easily defeated Uruguay thanks to goals from Michel Platini and Bruno Bellone. This was a testament to the strength of European football at that time.
Match 2: Argentina 2-0 Denmark (1993)
At the Estadio Benito Villamarín (Sevilla, Spain), Diego Maradona’s Argentina (who was only on the bench) won convincingly thanks to goals from Sergio Rodríguez and Abel Balbo. This match marked the domination of South America in their rare championship.
Revival Match: Argentina 3-0 Italy (2022)
On June 1, 2022 at Wembley Stadium (London, England), Argentina under the leadership of Lionel Messi created an earthquake when defeating Italy – the reigning Euro 2020 champion – with a score of 3-0. The goals were scored by Lautaro Martínez, Ángel Di María and Paulo Dybala, in a display of high pressing and sharp counter-attacks. Messi was voted the best player of the match, and Argentina became the first team to win the modern Finalissima.
Additionally, the first women’s edition will take place in 2023 between England and Brazil, with England winning 1–0 thanks to a goal from Lauren Hemp, expanding the tournament to women’s football.
Conclude
CONMEBOL–UEFA Finalissima is more than just a match, it is a cultural and sporting bridge between Europe and South America, bringing together rare high-level rivalries. With a short but impressive history, this tournament continues to affirm the position of football as the king of sports. Fans can follow the latest updates on the official UEFA and CONMEBOL platforms to not miss the upcoming historic moments. What do you think of Argentina vs Spain? Share your predictions!
