- Spain, England, the Netherlands, and Italy—names synonymous with Europe’s top national teams—will be chasing the Eternal Glory in 2026.
- In addition to those representing their countries of origin, this edition of the CONMEBOL Libertadores will also feature players who represent nations that welcomed them and gave them new opportunities.
From players born in Europe who represent their country of origin, to naturalized professionals who play for European national teams, and even those who—despite being born in the Old Continent—represent another nation, the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores will feature protagonists from different parts of the world aiming to reach the top of South America.
European players representing European national teams
Ander Herrera – Boca Juniors
Although he began his career at Real Zaragoza, Spain’s Ander Herrera made his breakthrough at Athletic Club in 2011 under Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa. His performances earned him a move to Manchester United in 2014, where he stayed until 2019 before continuing at Paris Saint-Germain. In 2022, he returned to Bilbao for three seasons, but in 2025 he chose to embark on a new adventure in Argentina, joining Boca Juniors. In his first campaign, Boca were eliminated in Phase 2 of the CONMEBOL Libertadores by Alianza Lima, limiting his exposure to the competition. In 2026, he will aim to lead the Xeneize toward their seventh title.
Jesse Lingard – Corinthians
A product of Manchester United’s academy, England’s Jesse Lingard made his first-team debut in 2015 after several loan spells within English football. His most consistent period at Old Trafford came between 2016 and 2020, when he was also part of England’s squad at the 2018 World Cup. In the Premier League, he also played for West Ham and Nottingham Forest. In 2024, he experienced his first move abroad, joining FC Seoul in South Korea. After two years in Asia, the attacker signed for Corinthians, aiming to contribute to the Brazilian club’s pursuit of a second CONMEBOL Libertadores title.
Memphis Depay – Corinthians
The Dutch forward emerged at PSV Eindhoven, particularly shining during the 2015/16 season. His career then took him to several European giants: Manchester United, Lyon, Barcelona, and Atlético de Madrid, as well as representing the Netherlands at the 2014 and 2022 World Cups. He joined Corinthians in 2024 and, in just over a year, has already won three titles with the club: the Campeonato Paulista, the Copa do Brasil, and the Supercopa. In 2025, the team was eliminated in the second preliminary round of the CONMEBOL Libertadores by Barcelona of Ecuador, but now qualified for the 2026 group stage, Depay will look to play a leading role in the quest for Eternal Glory.
Saúl Ñíguez – Flamengo
Much of Spanish midfielder Saúl Ñíguez’s career has been tied to Atlético de Madrid, where he made his debut in 2012. After a loan spell at Rayo Vallecano, he established himself as a key player for Atlético until 2021, winning titles and featuring in Spain’s squad for the 2018 World Cup. He later had stints at Chelsea (2021) and Sevilla (2024) before joining Flamengo in July 2025. In his first season in Rio de Janeiro, he won the CONMEBOL Libertadores, helping the club secure its fourth title and become the most successful Brazilian team in the competition.
South Americans representing European national teams
Jorginho - Flamengo
Born in Santa Catarina, in southern Brazil, Jorginho developed professionally in Italy. Trained at Hellas Verona, he enjoyed a standout spell at Napoli between 2014 and 2018. He became an Italian citizen and earned his first call-up to the national team in 2016, reaching his peak with the Euro 2021 title. He also shone in England, playing for Chelsea—where he won the Champions League—and Arsenal. He returned to Brazil in 2025 and, in his first season, won the CONMEBOL Libertadores with Flamengo, becoming the first European player—although Brazilian-born—to win the top club competition in both Europe and South America.
Mateo Klimowicz - Cerro Porteño
Born in Córdoba, Argentina, Mateo Klimowicz is a midfielder for Cerro Porteño. The son of former footballer Diego Klimowicz, he followed in his father’s footsteps—who played for Wolfsburg, Borussia Dortmund, and Bochum—and, after starting at Instituto de Córdoba, moved to Stuttgart. Thanks to his international eligibility, he represented Germany at youth level and won the UEFA Under-21 European Championship in 2021. However, he has yet to debut for the senior national team, leaving open the possibility of representing another country, as he is also eligible for Polish citizenship through family ancestry.
Wanderson - Cruzeiro
The son of former player Wamberto, Wanderson was born in São Luís (Maranhão) but began his development at the age of eight at Ajax, where his father was playing. He later moved with him to the now-defunct Beerschot in Belgium and also played for Lierse. During that time, he represented Belgium at under-16 level, although he did not feature again for the country in later categories. Before joining Cruzeiro in 2025, he had spells at Getafe, Red Bull Salzburg, Krasnodar, and Internacional.
European-born players representing non-European national teams
Andreas Pereira - Palmeiras
Andreas Pereira is a familiar face in the CONMEBOL Libertadores. The son of Brazilian parents, he was born in Belgium and developed most of his career in Europe, where he played for Manchester United, Granada, Valencia, Lazio, and Fulham. He represented Belgium at youth level up to the U-17s, but from the U-20s onward chose to play for Brazil, earning his first senior call-up in 2018. At club level, the midfielder has featured for two Brazilian giants—Flamengo and now Palmeiras—reaching Libertadores finals with both, though without lifting the trophy. In 2026, he will have another chance to chase the Eternal Glory with the São Paulo side.
Carlos Sejas - Bolívar
The son of Bolivian parents, midfielder Carlos Sejas, now at Bolívar, was born in Madrid in 2004. He returned to Bolivia at the age of two and was raised by his grandfather. He made his professional debut with Aurora in 2021, where he remained until 2025. In 2023, he received his first call-up to Bolivia’s U-20 national team for the South American Championship, which reduced his chances of representing Spain, his country of birth. He joined Bolívar at the start of 2026 and will make his first appearance in the CONMEBOL Libertadores.
Cristian Benavente - Sporting Cristal
The son of a Spanish futsal player and a Peruvian volleyball player, Cristian Benavente was born in Spain but chose to represent Peru. Now at Sporting Cristal, he spent 13 years in Real Madrid’s youth system. Without breaking into the first team, he continued his career at Milton Keynes Dons, Sporting Charleroi, Pyramids, Nantes, and Royal Antwerp before settling in Peru and playing for several clubs prior to joining the Lima-based side.
Sekou Gassama - Universitario-PER
Born in Catalonia, forward Sekou Gassama, now at Universitario, spent most of his career in Spain, with brief spells in Cyprus and Algeria. At 30, he has just one international appearance—a match for Senegal’s U-20 team in 2015—and has not been called up at senior level since. He joined the Peruvian club at the beginning of 2026.
Zakaria Labyad - Corinthians
The first Moroccan in Corinthians’ history, Zakaria Labyad was born in the Netherlands but chose to represent Morocco. With spells at PSV, Ajax, and Sporting CP, he was part of the squad that competed in the 2012 Olympic Games with the Atlas Lions. He joined Corinthians in 2026 and, so far, has had limited opportunities to showcase his talent with the Brazilian side.
