- The ‘Timão’ won Group E with 11 points, secured qualification with two matches to spare and will face Rosario Central in the Round of 16, with the second leg at the Neo Química Arena.
Unbeaten champions of the 2012 CONMEBOL Libertadores, Corinthians are seeking their second Eternal Glory under Fernando Diniz, the coach who led Fluminense to the top of the continent in 2023.
Corinthians returned to the CONMEBOL Libertadores group stage in style, qualifying as 2025 Copa do Brasil champions after defeating Vasco da Gama in the final and earning a direct place among the continent’s top 32 teams. The 2026 season also began with silverware, as they lifted the Brazilian Super Cup after beating Flamengo, although Dorival Júnior’s tenure came to an end before the start of their international campaign.
Fernando Diniz took charge just days before the opening match against Platense and made an immediate impact. Corinthians won their first three matches — 2-0 against the ‘Calamar’, Independiente Santa Fe and Peñarol — scoring six goals without conceding. A late draw in Bogotá, secured through another decisive contribution from Gustavo Henrique, combined with the draw between Platense and Peñarol, allowed them to clinch qualification with two matchdays to spare.
The ‘Timão’ confirmed top spot with another draw, this time against Peñarol at the Estadio Campeón del Siglo, and finished Group E with 11 points from three wins, two draws and one defeat. A 2-0 loss to Platense on the final matchday did not affect their position: Corinthians finished one point ahead of the Argentine side and earned the right to host the second leg of their Round of 16 tie at the Neo Química Arena.
The team built its qualification campaign around three decisive figures. Rodrigo Garro was directly involved in four of their eight goals, Gustavo Henrique was the team’s leading scorer with three, and Hugo Souza anchored a defense that opened the tournament with three consecutive clean sheets. Jesse Lingard also added his name to the history books by becoming the first English player to score in the CONMEBOL Libertadores.
Their Round of 16 opponents will be Rosario Central, runners-up in Group H with 13 points and led by Ángel Di María. The tie revives an unforgettable chapter between the two clubs: in the 2000 edition, they met at the same stage, each winning 3-2 at home before Corinthians advanced on penalties after the tie finished 5-5 on aggregate. Twenty-six years later, the opening chapter will once again be played at the Gigante de Arroyito, with the decisive second leg in São Paulo.
Corinthians in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: Results and Schedule
CONMEBOL Libertadores Group Stage — Group E
Matchday 1: Platense 0-2 Corinthians
Goals: Kayke 8' ST, assist by Rodrigo Garro, and Yuri Alberto 24' ST, assist by Rodrigo Garro.
Matchday 2: Corinthians 2-0 Independiente Santa Fe
Goals: Raniele 5' ST, assist by Gustavo Henrique, and Gustavo Henrique 35' ST, assist by Rodrigo Garro.
Matchday 3: Corinthians 2-0 Peñarol
Goals: Gustavo Henrique 11' PT, assist by Rodrigo Garro, and Jesse Lingard 25' PT, assist by Yuri Alberto.
Matchday 4: Independiente Santa Fe 1-1 Corinthians
Goals: Hugo Rodallega 14' ST, assist by Jáder Obrian / Gustavo Henrique 47' ST, assist by Matheuzinho.
Matchday 5: Peñarol 1-1 Corinthians
Goals: Maximiliano Olivera 19' PT, assist by Jesús Trindade / Zakaria Labyad 18' ST.
Matchday 6: Corinthians 0-2 Platense
Goals: Franco Zapiola 21' PT, penalty, and Franco Zapiola 12' ST.
CONMEBOL Libertadores Round of 16
First Leg: Rosario Central vs. Corinthians — Thursday, August 13, 9:30 p.m., Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario.
Second Leg: Corinthians vs. Rosario Central — Thursday, August 20, 9:30 p.m., Neo Química Arena, São Paulo.
Corinthians Head Coach in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: Fernando Diniz
Diniz arrived at Corinthians on the eve of the group stage and made his debut with a 2-0 victory over Platense in Vicente López. The coach replaced Dorival Júnior after a nine-match winless run and needed only a handful of training sessions to change both the mood and identity of the team.
A CONMEBOL Libertadores champion in 2023 and CONMEBOL Recopa winner in 2024 with Fluminense, Diniz advocates a possession-based style built around playing out from the back, constant movement and the courage to keep the ball under pressure. At Corinthians, he quickly found players capable of bringing his ideas to life: he restored Rodrigo Garro to his best form, placed his trust in Kayke on his debut and turned set pieces into a decisive weapon centered around Gustavo Henrique.
The draw against Peñarol extended his unbeaten run as a coach in the CONMEBOL Libertadores to 19 matches, a streak that began during his time at Fluminense. The defeat to Platense brought that run to an end, but did not alter the main objective: Corinthians had already secured top spot in the group and the right to play the decisive leg of their first knockout tie at home.
Corinthians Squad for the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores
*The final squad list will be confirmed on Saturday, August 8.
Corinthians’ Standout Player in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: Rodrigo Garro
Fernando Diniz’s arrival restored Rodrigo Garro’s prominence, freedom and the captain’s armband. The Argentine was the architect of Corinthians’ strong start: he provided both assists in the win over Platense, set up another goal against Independiente Santa Fe and added one more in the victory over Peñarol. In total, he was directly involved in four of the team’s eight goals during the group stage.
His left foot is the starting point for much of Corinthians’ attacking play. He can carry the ball between the lines, accelerate the game with a vertical pass or turn a set piece into a clear scoring opportunity, a weapon he exploited particularly effectively with Gustavo Henrique as the target. The Argentine does not need to score to control a match: his influence lies in finding spaces others have yet to see.
His fitness will be one of the main storylines to follow ahead of the Round of 16. He suffered a knock to his right foot in late July, and his recovery will determine whether he can feature against Rosario Central. With Garro available, Corinthians regain the player who best embodies Diniz’s footballing ideas.
Corinthians’ Top Scorer in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: Gustavo Henrique
The ‘Timão’s’ top scorer is not a forward, but a center-back. Gustavo Henrique scored three times in the group stage, finding the net in three consecutive matches: against Independiente Santa Fe in São Paulo, against Peñarol, and once again versus Santa Fe, when his late header rescued a draw in Bogotá.
His impact went beyond the goals. He also assisted Raniele on Matchday 2 and was one of the key figures in a defense that kept clean sheets in the opening three matches. Standing 1.96 meters tall, with an excellent sense of timing when attacking space and unusual coordination for a player of his size, he became the preferred target for Garro’s free-kicks and corners.
Gustavo Henrique became the first Corinthians defender to score three goals in a single CONMEBOL Libertadores campaign and the first player from any team to score in three consecutive matches in the competition since Alejandro Donatti did so for Rosario Central in 2016. His battle with the ‘Canalla’s’ center-backs and midfielders will be one of the key factors in the tie.
Corinthians’ X-Factor in the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores: Jesse Lingard
Jesse Lingard needed only a few matches to write his name into the history of the competition. Against Peñarol, he won the ball back, combined with Yuri Alberto and finished from inside the box to become the first English player to score a goal in the CONMEBOL Libertadores.
At 33, the former Manchester United and Nottingham Forest player brings a level of experience rarely seen in South American football: he made 32 appearances for England, played at the 2018 World Cup and arrived in Brazil after a spell with FC Seoul. In Diniz’s system, he can operate as an attacking midfielder, winger or second striker, with the ability to exploit the spaces created by Yuri Alberto.
In a tie in which Rosario Central will look to close down central areas and limit Garro’s influence, Lingard’s movement could provide a different solution. His experience, ability to arrive from deeper positions and understanding of how to attack the box make him an unpredictable weapon for the ‘Timão’.
Corinthians’ History in the CONMEBOL Libertadores
Corinthians share an unforgettable bond with Eternal Glory. Their only CONMEBOL Libertadores title came in 2012, and it was a flawless campaign: Tite’s side played 14 matches, won eight, drew six, scored 22 goals and conceded just four. They did not lose a single game throughout the tournament.
In the final, Corinthians drew 1-1 with Boca Juniors at La Bombonera, with Romarinho scoring the memorable equalizer, before winning 2-0 at the Pacaembu thanks to a brace from Emerson Sheik. That triumph paved the way for success at the FIFA Club World Cup, where they defeated Chelsea, and in the 2013 CONMEBOL Recopa against São Paulo.
The 2026 edition marks Corinthians’ 19th appearance in the competition and brings back another memorable chapter. In the 2000 Round of 16, Corinthians eliminated Rosario Central on penalties after both teams won their home legs 3-2. Luizão scored four goals across the tie, and the ‘Timão’ went on to reach the semifinals.
