It’s taken a little longer than expected, but we’ve finally reached the end of the 2020 Copa Libertadores…in 2021.

In the battle of the Brazilians, it was Palmeiras who came out on top against Santos, earning themselves a place in the history books.

Let’s take a closer look at the victors.

In a squad full of so much exciting young talent, there are a handful of old heads who bring the much-needed experience.

At the back, Luan leads by example, but most of Palmeiras‘ firepower comes from midfield and attack. Lucas Lima, known for his four years with Santos between 2014 and 2018, is a creative hub, while attacking midfielder Raphael Veiga is the main source of goals in the squad.

33-year-old Luiz Adriano, formely of Shakhtar Donetsk, AC Milan and Spartak Moscow, is the danger man in attack. He’s the man who scored five goals in a Champions League game in 2014 against BATE Borisov, joining Lionel Messi as one of just two players to ever manage such a feat.

There’s some real young talents in this Palmeiras squad, but if you’ve only got enough time to remember one name, make it that of right winger Gabriel Veron.

The 18-year-old rose to worldwide prominence by winning the Golden Ball at the 2019 Under-17 World Cup, and he’s gone from strength to strength ever since. Not yet a permanent fixture of the starting lineup at Palmeiras, Veron has been tipped to be the next young Brazilian to seal a big-money move to Europe. Manchester United are often named as suitors.

Central midfielder Gabriel Menino looks more like a ready-made star, while anchor man Patrick de Paula is another who definitely deserves your attention.

You may well have come across both Adriano and Veron at some point in your life, but neither are the biggest name in Palmeiras‘ squad.

That honour goes to club captain Felipe Melo, the prototypical hard man who once brought his no-nonsense style of play to the likes of Juventus, Galatasaray and Inter between 2009 and 2017. Now 37, injuries have stopped him from playing as much as he’d like to, but his influence is always felt.

Defender Gustavo Gomez was an expensive signing for AC Milan in 2016, but he spent the last two years on loan with Palmeiras before making the move permanent last summer.

Portuguese boss Abel Ferreira has only been in charge of Palmeiras for a few months. He left Greek side PAOK in October 2020 and joined the Brazilian side in November, and he’s already won the big one.

He became just the second Portuguese manager, the third European coach and the third non-South American to win the Copa Libertadores – not bad for your third month in the job.

Ferreira isn’t exactly a household name outside of Portugal. Now 42, he retired from playing in 2011 on the books of Sporting CP, having spent time with Braga, Vitoria Guimaraes and Penafiel earlier in his career.

É CAMPEÃO!
21 ANOS DEPOIS, O CONTINENTE VOLTA A SER VERDE E BRANCO! NÓS SOMOS BICAMPEÕES DA AMÉRICA! A #LIBERTADORES É NOSSA! ?#AméricaVerde #AlmaECoração pic.twitter.com/iNqDR6tIbl

— SE Palmeiras (@Palmeiras) January 30, 2021

This latest triumph was just the second time that Palmeiras have lifted the Copa Libertadores, the first of which came back in 1999.

Managed by the famous Luiz Felipe Scolari and featuring World Cup heroes like Marcos, Zinho and Roque Junior, Palmeiras won the final on penalties and earned a spot in the now-defunct Intercontinental Cup, which has since been replaced by the Club World Cup.

Scolari’s side made it to the final of the Intercontinental Cup, where they faced Manchester United. Despite a heroic performance, Palmeiras fell to a 1-0 loss courtesy of an early Roy Keane strike.

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