Corinthians, an association football team based in São Paulo, is one of the most successful Brazilian clubs in international competitions. They have won two FIFA Club World Cup titles (in 2000 and 2012) the most for any club outside Europe, one Copa Libertadores (in 2012) and one Recopa Sudamericana (in 2013), for a total of four international trophies.
Their first participation in international competitions came in 1977, when they qualified for the 18th edition of the Copa Libertadores as the domestic league runner-up. Corinthians then debuted in the Copa Conmebol in 1994, followed by the inaugural editions of the Copa Mercosur and the FIFA Club World Cup in 1998 and 2000, respectively. In 2003, they also competed in the Copa Sudamericana, the successor to the Copa Conmebol.
With their victory in the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship, Corinthians became the first team to win this FIFA competition. As South American champions in 2012, they contested their second FIFA Club World Cup and their first Recopa Sudamericana, winning both trophies in these appearances. Until 2012, Corinthians were the only club among São Paulo's "Big Four" yet to win South America's premier club competition—Santos, São Paulo, and Palmeiras had won the Copa Libertadores in 1962, 1992, and 1999, respectively.
History Early decades (1977–99)
Corinthians first participated in international club competitions in 1977, when they took part in the group stage of the 18th edition of the Copa Libertadores – the highest level of competition in South American club football – as the runners-up in the previous year's Brazilian championship. Their debut was against Internacional, a club that had beaten Corinthians four months earlier in the 1976 national championship finals, at Morumbi Stadium. Right-back Zé Maria scored the first international goal in the club’s history. After a 1–1 draw against Internacional, the team, led by coach Osvaldo Brandão, was defeated 2–1 in both of their away matches against El Nacional and Cuenca, respectively, and suffered a 1–0 defeat to the then Brazilian champions. With no possibility of advancing to the next stage, Corinthians secured their first two victories against Cuenca and El Nacional and finished their debut South American campaign in third place in their group.
After a 14-year hiatus, Corinthians participated in their second Libertadores in 1991, this time as the Brazilian national football champions. Coached by Nelsinho Baptista and led by midfielder Neto, Corinthians were placed in a group with Flamengo, Nacional de Montevideo and Bella Vista, where they finished as the runner-up. Paired with Boca Juniors in the round of 16, they were beaten 3–1 in the first leg at La Bombonera and were eliminated after a 1–1 draw in the second leg at Morumbi Stadium, with 65,791 spectators in attendance. Two seasons later, Corinthians participated in their first Copa Conmebol in 1994. Coached by Jair Pereira, they made it to the semifinals, where they were defeated by São Paulo, the eventual competition winners, in a penalty shootout after each team won a game. Corinthians returned to the tournament the following season, but they were eliminated by América de Cali in the quarter-finals.
Corinthians entered the 1996 Libertadores after winning their first Brazilian Cup final win in mid-1995. Coached by Eduardo Amorim and featuring players like Marcelinho Carioca and Edmundo, they finished as group winners over Universidad de Chile, Botafogo and Universidad Católica. In the round of 16, they eliminated Espol and reached the quarter-finals of the Libertadores for the first time in their history. Facing Grêmio, the holders of the 1995 Libertadores, the match felt like a final for Corinthians. In the first leg at Pacaembu Stadium, they were shocked with a 3–0 home defeat. Despite a 1–0 victory away, Corinthians were eliminated on aggregate. Two years later, the club participated in the first edition of the Copa Mercosur, but their campaign ended outside the top two spots in their group.
After winning their second Brazilian Championship under Vanderlei Luxemburgo, Corinthians reached the 1999 Libertadores. In February, Evaristo de Macedo was hired to lead the club in South America's premier competition. In the group stage, Corinthians faced Cerro Porteño, Olimpia, and their bitter rivals Palmeiras. With players like Carlos Gamarra, Vampeta, Freddy Rincón, Ricardinho, Marcelinho Carioca, Edílson and Fernando Baiano, Corinthians finished as group winners. One of the highlights of that campaign was the 8–2 victory against Cerro Porteño, with Fernando Baiano scoring five goals. After eliminating Jorge Wilstermann in the round of 16, Macedo resigned three days before the quarter-final matches against Palmeiras. Interim coach Oswaldo de Oliveira took charge for both legs at Morumbi. Despite more than 30 shots on target against Palmeiras, Corinthians lost 2–0 in the first leg. In the second leg, Corinthians won 2–0 but were eliminated 4–2 on penalties. That season, the club also participated in their second Copa Mercosur but were eliminated in the quarter-finals by San Lorenzo de Almagro.
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista fixtures in international competitions (1977–1999) Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away 1977Libertadores CupGS SC Internacional1–10–13rd El Nacional3–01–2 CD Cuenca4–01–21991Libertadores CupGS Flamengo0–21–12nd Bella Vista4–11–1 Nacional de Montevideo0–01–1 R16 Boca Juniors1–11–3 2–41994CONMEBOL Cup R16 Vitória3–21–1 4–3 QF Minervén6–05–2 11–2 SF São Paulo FC3–43–2 6–6 1995CONMEBOL Cup R16 Ceará2–21–1 3–3 QF América de Cali2–11–3 3–41996Libertadores CupGS Botafogo3–01–11st Universidad Católica3–13–2 Universidad de Chile3–10–1 R16 Espoli2–03–1 5–1 QF Grêmio0–31–0 1–31998Mercosur CupGS Olimpia1–22–23rd Racing Avellaneda1–20–1 Peñarol1–12–01999Libertadores CupGS Palmeiras2–10–11st Cerro Porteño8–20–3 Olimpia4–02–1 R16 Jorge Wilstermann5–21–1 6–3 QF Palmeiras2–00–2 2–2 1999Mercosur CupGS Independiente1–20–22nd Vélez Sarsfield2–03–0 Grêmio4–10–0 QF San Lorenzo1–21–2 2–4Corinthians goals appear first in scores. Wins are highlighted in green, draws in yellow, and losses in red.
World Champion Clubs and frustrations in South America (2000–2010)
One of eight teams participating in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in 2000, Corinthians were nominated by the Brazilian Football Confederation as the host country's representative in the new competition. The 1999 Brazilian Championship holders had just claimed their third national league title, with key players such as Dida, Freddy Rincón, Vampeta, Ricardinho, Marcelinho Carioca, Edílson and Luizão. Corinthians began their campaign with a 2–0 victory over African champions Raja by 2–0. In the second round, they secured a 2–2 draw with Real Madrid, with standout performances from Edílson, who scored twice, and goalkeeper Dida, who saved a late penalty from Nicolas Anelka A hard-fought 2–0 victory over Al-Nassr confirmed Corinthians as group winners and sealed their spot in the final in Rio de Janeiro. The opponent was Vasco da Gama, winner of the other group.
In front of more than 73,000 supporters, most of whom were in favor of the Carioca team, at Maracanã Stadium, the two sides played a match marked by few offensive moves. With the score tied 0–0 after regulation and extra time, the game was decided by a penalty shootout. Rincón, Fernando Baiano, Luizão, and Edu converted the first four penalties for Corinthians, while Dida saved a penalty from Gilberto. Although Marcelinho Carioca missed his penalty and was denied by Vasco goalkeeper Helton, Edmundo also missed for Vasco. Corinthians won 4–3 and were crowned the first-ever FIFA Club World Cup champions. The title also marked their first international trophy in the club's history.
Four weeks later, Corinthians began their 2000 Copa Libertadores journey with high expectations, hoping to finally claim South America's most prestigious club trophy, a long-time obsession for their supporters, players, and staff alike. However, the club struggled to top their group, which included América, Olimpia and LDU Quito. They eliminated Racing Avellaneda in the round of 16 and Atlético Mineiro in the quarter-finals to reach their first Copa Libertadores semi-final. Their opponent was rival Palmeiras, who had been a tormentor in previous Libertadores edition. In the first leg, Corinthians triumphed 4–3 with a late goal from Vampeta. However, after a 3–2 loss in the second leg, they were eliminated by penalties, with Corinthians idol Marcelinho Carioca missing the decisive spot-kick.
Following this painful exit from the Libertadores, Corinthians also had a disappointing campaign in the Copa Mercosur that season. After starting the competition under coach Oswaldo Alvarez and finishing with Candinho at the helm, Corinthians failed to win any of their six matches, finishing last in their group. Under coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, Corinthians reached the semi-finals of the Copa Mercosur the following year, where they were eliminated by San Lorenzo de Almagro after a 2–1 win at home and a heavy 4–1 defeat away.
In 2002, Corinthians won their second Brazilian Cup and qualified for the 2003 Copa Libertadores. In a group with Cruz Azul, Fénix and The Strongest, the Corinthians squad, coached by Geninho, finished the group stage with the best record, winning five of their six matches. In the round of 16, they faced River Plate. After taking the lead at Monumental de Nuñez, Corinthians were provoked by River's tactics, which led to a red card and two late goals from the hosts. The return leg at Morumbi followed a similar script. Corinthians scored first but again lost their composure, suffering a 2–1 defeat and being eliminated. Corinthians also participated in the Copa Sudamericana that year, a competition that replaced the Copa Mercosur, but were eliminated in the preliminary phase. They returned to the tournament two years later, but were eliminated by Pumas UNAM in the quarter-finals.
Corinthians secured their fourth Brazilian league title in 2005, earning a spot i the 2006 Copa Libertadores. With a squad assembled by Media Sports Investment, which included players like Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano and Carlos Alberto, the team, initially coached by Daniel Passarella, later hired Antonio Lopes after Passarella's departure. Corinthians finished first in their group, which included Tigres UANL, Universidad Católica and Deportivo Cali. In the round of 16, they faced River Plate, the club that had eliminated them three years earlier. A 3–2 loss away in the first leg was marred by two controversial decisions by referee Carlos Amarilla, who disallowed a legitimate goal by Tévez and sent off Mascherano for a non-existent foul. In the return leg at Pacaembu, Corinthians took the lead but lost 3–1, suffering three goals in 25 minutes. The match ended in chaos, with irate Corinthians fans invading the pitch, prompting the police to intervene and the game to be called off before the 90th minute. Months later, under coach Emerson Leão, the club was eliminated in the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana that season by Lanús.
Corinthians’ disastrous 2007 season, which saw them relegated to the Brazilian second division the following year, was preceded by a poor campaign in the Copa Sudamericana.