- The legends took center stage at the draw held at CONMEBOL’s headquarters in Luque.
- René Higuita and Diego Godín were responsible for drawing the balls for the CONMEBOL Sudamericana.
At CONMEBOL’s headquarters in Luque, Paraguay, the draws for the group stages of the CONMEBOL Libertadores and the CONMEBOL Sudamericana were held, respectively.
Prominent figures from South American football were in attendance, presenting the official match ball for both competitions and also taking part in the draws at their respective pots.
Carlos Gamarra, the Paraguayan defender who captained his national team and enjoyed an extensive career across the continent, unveiled the official ball for both tournaments: the brand-new Cumbre.
René Higuita, the legendary Colombian goalkeeper who won the CONMEBOL Libertadores with Atlético Nacional (Colombia) in 1989, and the experienced Uruguayan defender Diego Godín—who took part in the 2006 edition with Nacional (Uruguay)—assisted in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana draw.
Higuita, who handled pots 1 and 2, highlighted the message of respect promoted by CONMEBOL.
Godín, for his part, emphasized that both in football and in life, this is the core value that must never be lost. He also praised the importance of both competitions and their steady, exponential growth, marked by the presence of so many historic figures over the years.
At the CONMEBOL Libertadores draw, the invited guests were Brazilian Felipe Melo—a three-time champion of the competition (2020 and 2021 with Palmeiras, and 2023 with Fluminense)—and Argentine Oscar Ruggeri, who lifted the trophy in the 1986 edition with River Plate.
When asked about the strongest groups, Melo identified Group A—featuring Flamengo (Brazil), Estudiantes (Argentina), Cusco FC (Peru), and Independiente Medellín (Colombia)—as one of his favorites, along with Group D, made up of Boca Juniors (Argentina), Cruzeiro (Brazil), Universidad Católica (Chile), and Barcelona (Ecuador), as well as Group F, comprising Palmeiras (Brazil), Cerro Porteño (Paraguay), Junior (Colombia), and Sporting Cristal (Peru).
Melo attended the CONMEBOL Libertadores draw for the second consecutive year. “It is a pleasure to represent Brazil here. I had the privilege of receiving the three trophies I won from the hands of Alejandro Domínguez, the President of CONMEBOL, and I am very grateful. It is an honor to be present at this event. We must not forget that the first thing a professional must have is respect,” he stated.
Ruggeri, for his part, emphasized the parity both competitions have reached and recalled his title with the Argentine side, then managed by Héctor Veira. “Being part of River’s first continental title was incredible. The club did not have that long-awaited trophy—we won it for the first time with a great team. The competitions have changed a lot, and for the better. From 1986 to today, there has been significant improvement in many aspects,” he concluded.
The Group Stages of both the CONMEBOL Libertadores and the CONMEBOL Sudamericana will kick off on Tuesday, April 7.
