Uruguay at the Copa América


The Copa América is South America's major tournament in senior men's soccer and determines the continental champion. Until 1967, the tournament was known as South American Championship. It is the oldest continental championship in the world with its first edition held in 1916.
Uruguay won the inaugural tournament in Argentina, making them the first nation to hold an international football title worldwide. They are the most successful team in tournament history with 15 titles, leading their rivals from Argentina by one.
Until 1927, the South American Championship was held annually, and Uruguay were the dominating team during this early era, winning six out of eleven tournaments. Part of all six victorious squads was inside-forward Ángel Romano, who holds the record for most titles and for most tournament participations.

Record at the Copa América

In the era of the South American Championship, Round Robins were more commonly played than knock-out tournaments. Listed are the decisive matches which secured Uruguay the respective titles.
YearMatch TypeOpponentResultManagerGoal ScorerFinal Location
1916Round Robin0-0 Alfredo FoglinoAvellaneda
1917Round Robin1-0 Ramón PlateroH. ScaroneMontevideo
1920Round Robin2-1 Ernesto FígoliÁ. Romano, J. PérezVina del Mar
1923Round Robin2-0 Leonardo De LuccaP. Petrone, P. SommaMontevideo
1924Round Robin0-0 Ernesto MelianteMontevideo
1926Round Robin6-1 Ernesto FígoliH. Castro, Z. Saldombide Santiago
1935Round Robin3-0 Raúl BlancoH. Castro, J. Taboada, A. CioccaLima
1942Round Robin1-0 Pedro CeaB. ZapirainMontevideo
1956Round Robin1-0 Hugo MagnuloJ. AmbroisMontevideo
1959Round Robin - 4-1 Juan Carlos CorazzoGuayaquil
1967Round Robin1-0 Juan Carlos CorazzoP. RochaMontevideo
1983Final, Second Leg1-1 Omar BorrásC. AguileraSalvador da Bahia
1987Final1-0 Roberto FleitasP. BengoecheaBuenos Aires
1995Final1-1
Héctor NúñezP. BengoecheaMontevideo
2011Final3-0 Óscar TabárezL. Suárez, D. Forlán Buenos Aires

Record by Opponent

Record Players

No.NameMatchesTournaments
1Ángel Romano211916, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1924 and 1926
1Schubert Gambetta211941, 1942, 1945 and 1947
3Roberto Porta201939, 1941, 1942 and 1945
3Obdulio Varela201939, 1941, 1942, 1945 and 1946
3Diego Pérez202001, 2004, 2007 and 2011
6Pascual Somma191916, 1917, 1920, 1921, 1922 and 1923
6William Martínez191953, 1955, 1956 and 1959
8Héctor Scarone181917, 1919, 1923, 1924, 1926 and 1927
8Diego Forlán182004, 2007 and 2011
8Maxi Pereira182007, 2011, 2015 and 2016

Top Goalscorers

No.NameGoalsTournaments
1Severino Varela151937, 1939 and 1942
2Héctor Scarone131917, 1919, 1923, 1926 and 1927
3Ángel Romano121917, 1920, 1921, 1924 and 1926
3Roberto Porta121939, 1941, 1942 and 1945
5Pedro Petrone101923, 1924 and 1927
5Héctor Castro101926, 1927 and 1935
5Javier Ambrois101956 and 1957
8Nicolás Falero91945 and 1947
9José María Medina71946
9Guillermo Escalada71956, 1959 and 1959
9José Sasia71957, 1959 and 1959

Players with several titles

No.NameChampionships
1Ángel Romano6
2Pascual Somma4
2Héctor Scarone4
2José Nasazzi4*
5Alfredo Foglino3
5José Pérez3
5Antonio Urdinarán3
5José Piendibene3
5Alfredo Zibechi3
5José Vanzzino3
5José Leandro Andrade3
5Alfredo Ghierra3
5Andrés Mazali3
5Santos Urdinarán3
5Enzo Francéscoli3
1628 players2

Team Awards
Individual Awards
Team records
  • Most titles: 15
  • Most matches played: 201
Individual records'''