Lionel Messi and Inter Miami ‘invited to play in 2024 Copa Libertadores… while CONMEBOL looks to expand the tournament’
- Messi’s cup form could be a concern for CONEMBOL’s teams – with 9 goals in 6
- Only teams from the South American conference countries participate in the cup
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If Lionel Messi’s admiration and fandom take over American football, Inter Miami could be experiencing Messi mania at its peak; in South America.
According to football journalist Hugo BalassoThe president of the Argentine Football Association has invited the high-flying South Florida club to participate in the 2024 Copa Libertadores.
According to the report, CONMEBOL chief Alejandro Dominguez requested that AFA president, Claudio Tapia, make an effort to kill Messi and Co. involve in the competition.
David Beckham’s Inter Miami is reportedly not the only club interested, with other CONCACAF clubs, presumably mostly from Mexico and the US, set to pitch for the tournament.
The Copa Libertadores has been an annual tournament since 1960 and involves club teams from all over South America.
Inter Miami has reportedly been formally invited to participate in the South American Club Cup
Brazilian giant Flamengo won the 32-team CONMEBOL Cup competition in Ecuador last season
In the current iteration, there is a group stage of 32 teams, with the last four competing through three qualifying rounds.
There are four teams from each of the 10 CONMEBOL countries – Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela – at the start of qualifying in January.
As for the 2023 Copa Libertadores, it is in the quarterfinals – with the two-game first leg starting on August 22.
The Argentinian giant Boca Juniors will be joined by compatriot Racing Club in the last eight. Four other countries are represented; Brazil (Palmeiras and Fluminese), Bolivia (Bolivar), Paraguay (Club Olimpia) and Colombia (Deportivo Pereira).
Messi’s home country is the most successful of all countries with a total of 25 titles, ahead of Brazil (22) and Uruguay (8).
Independiente (7) and Boca Juniors (6) have the most titles of any club, both from Argentina.