- The second legs of the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana Quarter-finals delivered comebacks, dramatic late goals and decisive performances: meet the players who made the Team of the Week.
- Atlético Mineiro contribute four players, Montevideo City Torque have three, while Boca Juniors and Vasco da Gama complete the line-up with two representatives each.
The CONMEBOL Sudamericana now has its four Semi-finalists. Boca Juniors and Vasco da Gama made their first-leg advantages count, while Atlético Mineiro and Montevideo City Torque overturned their respective ties in an action-packed week that kept the race for ‘The Great Conquest’ wide open.
The Team of the Week, presented by EA SPORTS FC, brings together eleven standout performers from these decisive matches. Featuring three defenders, four midfielders and three forwards, all four qualified clubs are represented in the line-up.
Gabriel Delfim (Atlético Mineiro)
He was the hero of the decider against Santos. After the 4-2 victory levelled the tie, he saved penalties from Gabigol, João Schmidt and Arthur Melo to secure the ‘Galo’s’ place in the Semi-finals. The 24-year-old became only the second Atlético Mineiro goalkeeper to save three penalties in a single CONMEBOL Sudamericana shootout, after Victor in 2019.
Alan Saldivia (Vasco da Gama)
He added a decisive attacking contribution to his defensive work. He pushed forward down the right and assisted Bruno Duarte for the opening goal against Independiente Santa Fe. The Uruguayan completed a tie without conceding and was one of the pillars of the Rio de Janeiro side as they secured their place in the Semi-finals.
Facundo Herrera (Boca Juniors)
He earns his place in the chosen defensive line after Boca secured qualification at the MorumBIS. The young ‘Xeneize’ stepped up when his team needed him and established himself as a key part of a back line that held São Paulo to a draw and conceded just once across the two legs, a reflection of the collective resilience that took Boca back to the Semi-finals.
Leandro Lozano (Boca Juniors)
He surprised the opposition with a run down the right and scored a crucial goal in Brazil. After receiving a first-time pass from Leonel Flores, he drove into the box and finished with his left foot to extend Boca’s advantage in the tie. It was his first goal for the club in CONMEBOL competitions.
Bernard (Atlético Mineiro)
He sparked the comeback after just 19 seconds. After receiving an assist from Fred, he finished right-footed to begin reducing the deficit Santos had built in the first leg. His strike matched the record for the fastest goal of this year’s competition and gave the ‘Galo’ the momentum they needed.
Nahuel Da Silva (Montevideo City Torque)
He came on after the break and ended up scoring the most important goal of the night. With the tie level, he attacked the space after a header from Salomón Rodríguez and won his one-on-one with Ítalo Espinoza to make it 3-0. His first goal in international competition sent the Uruguayan side into a historic Semi-final.
Pablo Siles (Montevideo City Torque)
He is one of three representatives from the Uruguayan side in the Team of the Week. He was the engine of the team and played a key role in the comeback against Cienciano. His selection also recognises a collective performance that overturned the 2-0 defeat suffered in Cusco: City Torque won 3-0 at the Centenario to extend the best international campaign in the club’s history.
Tomás Cuello (Atlético Mineiro)
He delivered when Santos were seconds away from qualification. In the second minute of added time, he got ahead of his marker to head home a cross from the right and make it 4-2, sending the tie to penalties. After missing the first leg through suspension, he returned with a goal that kept the reigning runners-up alive and once again underlined his ability to make an impact in the closing stages of matches.
Bruno Duarte (Vasco da Gama)
He opened the scoring in the victory over Independiente Santa Fe. In the 37th minute of the first half, he arrived in front of goal to convert Alan Saldivia’s assist and put Vasco ahead. He scored with his first shot on target in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, in only his second appearance in the competition.
Salomón Rodríguez (Montevideo City Torque)
Two goals and a decisive involvement in the third saw him lead the comeback against Cienciano. He opened the scoring with a finish into the far corner, levelled the tie with a header and played a part in the move that ended with Nahuel Da Silva’s goal. He reached seven goals in this year’s competition and once again proved decisive for Marcelo Méndez’s side.
Reinier (Atlético Mineiro)
He scored twice in the first half to keep the ‘Galo’s’ comeback on track. First, he converted a cut-back from Fred before connecting with a Renan Lodi delivery to make it 3-1 before the break. A physical issue prevented him from playing in the second half, but his brace was crucial in keeping Atlético Mineiro in the competition.
