Copa Libertadores
FILE - In this Oct. 22, 2019 file photo, Carlos Tevez of Boca Juniors, waves prior to the Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against River Plate, at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tevez in a press conference on Friday, June 4, 2021 announced his departure from the team. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
CA River Plate (Arg) vs Boca Juniors 10/22/2019

Jun. 04, 2021 07:58 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 22, 2019 file photo, Carlos Tevez of Boca Juniors, waves prior to the Copa Libertadores semifinal second leg soccer match against River Plate, at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Tevez in a press conference on Friday, June 4, 2021 announced his departure from the team. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)
Tevez leaves Boca Juniors to rest; no talk of retirement

By Debora Rey Jun. 04, 2021 07:55 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sunday, July 10, 2016 file photo, Portugal's Bruno Alves, right, and Nani pose for photos with trophy at the end of the Euro 2016 final soccer match between Portugal and France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. When it comes time for Brazilians to choose who to watch on the soccer field this month — Neymar or Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo — the response might be surprising. Because of an unusual set of circumstances, it will be the European Championship that reaches more viewers in Brazil than the Copa America — even though Brazil is expected to host South American the tournament under a completely different set of unusual circumstances.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
EURO 2020: Euro 2020 will usurp Copa America in Brazil

By Mauricio Savarese Jun. 04, 2021 08:09 AM EDT

Sebastian Villa of Argentina's Boca Juniors, left, goes with the ball past Nixon Molina of Ecuador's Barcelona during a Copa Libertadores soccer match at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, May 20, 2021. (Marcelo Endelli/Pool via AP)
Barcelona SC vs Boca Juniors 5/20/2021

May. 21, 2021 11:28 AM EDT

Sebastian Villa of Argentina's Boca Juniors, left, goes with the ball past Nixon Molina of Ecuador's Barcelona during a Copa Libertadores soccer match at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, May 20, 2021. (Marcelo Endelli/Pool via AP)
All soccer suspended in Argentina because of virus cases

By Debora Rey May. 21, 2021 11:24 AM EDT

Goalkeeper Enzo Nicolas Perez of Argentina's River Plate stops a ball during a Copa Libertadores soccer match against Colombia's Independiente Santa Fein Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. (Juan Ignacio Roncoroni/Pool via AP)
A keepsake: River Plate overcomes COVID-19 obstacles for win

By The Associated Press May. 19, 2021 11:18 PM EDT

River Plate players walk off the field at the first half of a local league soccer match against Boca Juniors at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Daniel Jayo)
River Plate without goalkeepers for Copa Libertadores match

May. 18, 2021 07:35 PM EDT

River Plate players walk off the field at the first half of a local league soccer match against Boca Juniors at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Daniel Jayo)
20 footballers from River Plate test positive for COVID-19

May. 17, 2021 08:51 PM EDT

Jose Hurtado of Ecuador's Independiente del Valle, right, and Renan of Brazil's Palmeiras battle for the ball during a Copa Libertadores soccer match in Quito, Ecuador, Tuesday, May 11, 2021. (Franklin Jacome/Pool via AP)
Montevideo to host final of Copa Libertadores, Sudamericana

By Mauricio Savarese May. 13, 2021 01:19 PM EDT

Breno Lopes of Brazil's Palmeiras, bottom left, celebrates scoring against Brazil's Santos the only goal of the Copa Libertadores final soccer match at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janerio, Brazil, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Palmeiras beats Santos to win Copa Libertadores final

By Marcelo Sousa And Mauricio Savarese Jan. 30, 2021 05:48 PM EST

Marinho of Brazil's Santos celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal during a Copa Libertadores quarterfinal second leg soccer match against Brazil's Gremio in Santos, Brazil, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. (Amanda Perobelli/Pool via AP)
Empty Maracanã to host all-Brazilian Copa Libertadores final

By Mauricio Savarese Jan. 28, 2021 07:57 AM EST

Alphonso Davies, Robert Lewandowski and Kingsley Coman of Munich, from left, celebrate the opening goal during the Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and SC Freiburg in Munich, Germany, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. Photo: (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)
Club World Cup draw pits Bayern against Africa-Qatar winner

Jan. 19, 2021 11:01 AM EST

Brazil's Flamengo and Argentina's Racing Club players keep a minute of silence for EFE photographer Marcelo Sayao prior a Copa Libertadores round of 16 second leg soccer match at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Dec.1, 2020. (Antonio Lacerda/Pool via AP)
Copa Libertadores final to be played at empty Maracanã

By Mauricio Savarese Jan. 05, 2021 06:30 PM EST

Bayern's scorer Robert Lewandowski, center, is touched in the face by Bayern's scorer David Alaba after their second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Dortmund, Germany, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, Pool)
FIFA sets new Club World Cup dates for February in Qatar

Nov. 17, 2020 11:07 AM EST

Brazil's Flamengo players leave the field at half-time during their Copa Libertadores soccer match against Ecuador's Independiente del Valle in Quito, Ecuador, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2020. (Jose Jacome/Pool via AP)
Copa Libertadores champion Flamengo trashed 5-0 at restart

By Mauricio Savarese Sep. 17, 2020 10:38 PM EDT

Brazil's Reinier dribbles the ball upfield during a South America Olympic qualifying U23 soccer match against Argentina at the Alfonso Lopez stadium in Bucaramanga, Colombia, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Dortmund signs Brazil youngster Reinier on loan from Madrid

Aug. 19, 2020 10:15 AM EDT

Players of Peru's Alianza Lima and Argentina's Racing Club play a Copa Libertadores soccer match at the Presidente Peron stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, March 12, 2020. The match was played in an empty, closed door stadium as part of the government's measures to contain transmission of the new coronavirus. For most people the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness including pneumonia. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)
Copa Libertadores to restart in September after 6-month halt

By Mauricio Savarese Jul. 20, 2020 01:31 PM EDT

Players of Flamengo stand on the field prior to a Rio de Janeiro soccer league match against Bangu at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazi, Thursday, June 18, 2020. Rio de Janeiro's soccer league resumed after a three-month hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic. The match is being played without spectators to curb the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Brazil network ends Rio soccer deal over new Bolsonaro rule

By Mauricio Savarese Jul. 02, 2020 06:08 PM EDT

Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor smiles during his presentation as the newest member of Paraguay's Olimpia soccer team, at the Manuel Ferreira stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay, Friday, Feb. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)
Adebayor leaves Paraguay's Olympia after playing 4 games

Asuncion, Paraguay Jul. 01, 2020 01:10 PM EDT

Flamengo's Pedro Rocha celebrates after scoring during a Rio de Janeiro soccer league match against Bangu at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazi, Thursday, June 18, 2020. Rio de Janeiro's soccer league resumed after a three-month hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic. The match is being played without spectators to curb the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Rio restarts soccer league next to field hospital for COVID

By Filipe De Almeida And Mauricio Savarese Jun. 18, 2020 07:46 PM EDT