Kicks off this Tuesday 

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Whilst the European Champions League has already reached it’s quarter-finals stage this season, another huge continental competition is just getting underway in South America. The 66th edition of the Copa Libertadores begins this Tuesday with the opening group-stage matches. Over the next eight weeks, 32 teams will become 16, with the knockout phase coming to a close with a one-off final in late November. The venue is yet to be decided, but it is expected to be either the capital of Brazil, Brasilia, or the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo. Historically Argentinian sides have dominated the tournament – no side has won it more than Buenos-Aires based Independiente (seven times) – although in recent years Brazilian teams have been the most successful. Teams from Brazil have won the last six Copa Libertadores’ trophies.

Whilst many eyes from across the globe are always drawn to the Champions League, the less-adorned Copa Libertadores is a whole different football festival. With extremely passionate fans across the entire continent, exciting and flair-filled players donning the pitch, and some of the most tense rivalries in world football, the Copa Libertadores rarely fails to entertain. And in this season’s edition there will be plenty of exciting talent on show. So let’s take a look at the most valuable players in this term’s competition. The Brazilian duo of Palmeiras and Flamengo dominate the list.

The most valuable players in the 2025 Copa Libertadores

Leading the way as the most valuable player in this season’s edition of the Copa Libertadores is Palmeiras’ Chelsea-bound talent Estêvão. The 17-year-old attacker has already scored 20 goals and provided 10 assists for the first-team, and his market value now stands at €55 million. The teenager will sign for Chelsea in the summer for a fee of €34m, and he’s now worth €30m more than any other player in the whole of South America. In second place is Flamengo’s 27-year-old central midfielder Gerson, valued at €25m. Third place goes to another Flamengo star in 27-year-old centre-forward Pedro (€23m).

In fourth is former Barcelona forward Vitor Roque, who was signed back for Brazilian club Palmeiras in January for €25.5m after his move to Catalonia didn’t quite work out – he has current market value of €20m. Fifth goes to Flamengo’s Nicolás de la Cruz (€18m), and he is then followed by the Palmeiras duo of Paulinho (€17m) and Raphael Veiga (€17m) in sixth and seventh respectively. That means all of the top seven most valuable players in the Copa Libertadores play for either Palmeiras or Flamengo.

Argentina’s first entry on the list comes in eighth place, with River Plate’s talented 17-year-old attacking midfielder Franco Mastantuono. He has already been linked with many of Europe’s top clubs and has a current market value of €15m. In ninth position is reported Liverpool-target Wesley. The 21-year-old Flamengo right-back has a market value of €15m. Completing the top 10 is Botafogo striker Igor Jesus – he was linked with Arsenal in January and is also worth €15m.