COPA LIBERTADORES
Who are the all time the top scorers in the Copa Libertadores?
Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium hosts Boca Juniors against Fluminense Saturday in the final of the 64th edition of the Copa Libertadores.
Next Saturday, the eyes of the world will be on the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro as the iconic ground hosts the 2023 Copa Libertadores final between Fluminense and Boca Juniors. The Carioca side will have the honour and also the pressure of playing at home against the high profile Argentinian team that are on their hint for a seventh Libertadores title. The Brazilians, on the other hand, have yet to win one in their 121-year history.
A Libertadores win on Saturday also guarantees a place in the 2024 competition with both Los Xenexies and Flu well off the pace in their respective championships.
Fluminense have in their ranks Argentine striker German Cano who is the top scorer in the 2023 Libertadores with 12 goals but the veteran striker is still some way off the all time Libertadores all time top scoring record which is held by Alberto Spencer.
Spencer, the goal machine
The Ecuadorian striker is widely regarded as one of the best footballers the nation has produced over time and Spencer (the son of a Jamaican of British origin) is best known for his still-standing record for scoring the most goals in the Copa Libertadores.
Known as “Cabeza Mágica” (magic head), Spencer still holds the top scoring record of all time in the Copa Libertadores, with his tally of 54 goals between 1960 and 1972 with the goals accrued in his time playing for Everest of Guayaquil, Barcelona of Guayaquil and Montevideo giants Peñarol (Uruguay).
Spencer won a winners medal three times (1960, 1961, and 1966) all of them playing with Peñarol.
The Santa Elena born player was also four times the leading scorer of the Uruguayan domestic league with Peñarol, helping them to win the Uruguayan championship eight times during his 12-year stay. Throughout his professional career, he scored a grand total of 450 goals, surpassing 500 if friendlies were taken into account.
In total Spencer bagged his 54 goals over 87 Copa Libertadores appearances (a 0.62 goal per game ratio) and is joined on the top Libertadores marksman podium by Uruguayans Fernando Morena (37 goals) and Pedro Rocha on 36 goals.