# Chile at the Copa América

The Copa América is South America's major tournament in senior men's football and determines the continental champion. Until 1967, the tournament was known as South American Championship. It is the oldest continental championship in the world.
Chile are one of the four national teams that participated in the inaugural South American Championship in 1916. During their first six participations, they always ranked last, until they recorded their first match wins in 1926.
It took 99 years for them to win their first continental title, which they defended at the Copa América Centenario in 2016.
Chile won both the 2015 and 2016 final against Argentina on penalties, even though they have never defeated the Albiceleste over regular time in tournament history (30 attempts).

## Overall record

South American Championship / Copa América record :
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad |
| 1916 | Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11 | Squad |
| 1917 | Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | Squad |
| 1919 | Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | Squad |
| 1920 | Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Squad |
| 1921 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1922 | Fifth place | 5th | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | Squad |
| 1923 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1924 | Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 | Squad |
| 1925 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1926 | Third place | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 6 | Squad |
| 1927 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1929 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 1935 | Fourth place | 4th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | Squad |
| 1937 | Fifth place | 5th | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 13 | Squad |
| 1939 | Fourth place | 4th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 12 | Squad |
| 1941 | Third place | 3rd | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | Squad |
| 1942 | Sixth place | 6th | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 15 | Squad |
| 1945 | Third place | 3rd | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 5 | Squad |
| 1946 | Fifth place | 5th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 11 | Squad |
| 1947 | Fourth place | 4th | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 13 | Squad |
| 1949 | Fifth place | 5th | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 14 | Squad |
| 1953 | Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 10 | Squad |
| 1955 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 8 | Squad |
| 1956 | Runners-up | 2nd | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 8 | Squad |
| 1957 | Sixth place | 6th | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 17 | Squad |
| 1959 | Fifth place | 5th | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 14 | Squad |
| 1959 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 1963 | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate | Did not participate |
| 1967 | Third place | 3rd | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | Squad |
| 1975 | Group stage | 6th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 6 | Squad |
| 1979 | Runners-up | 2nd | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 6 | Squad |
| 1983 | Group stage | 5th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 2 | Squad |
| 1987 | Runners-up | 2nd | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | Squad |
| 1989 | Group stage | 5th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | Squad |
| 1991 | Third place | 3rd | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 6 | Squad |
| 1993 | Group stage | 9th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Squad |
| 1995 | Group stage | 11th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | Squad |
| 1997 | Group stage | 11th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | Squad |
| 1999 | Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 7 | Squad |
| 2001 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | Squad |
| 2004 | Group stage | 10th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | Squad |
| 2007 | Quarter-finals | 8th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 11 | Squad |
| 2011 | Quarter-finals | 5th | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | Squad |
| 2015 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 4 | Squad |
| 2016 | Champions | 1st | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 5 | Squad |
| 2019 | Fourth place | 4th | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | Squad |
| 2021 | Quarter-finals | 7th | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | Squad |
| 2024 | Group stage | 12th | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Squad |
| Total | 2 Titles | 41/48 | 191 | 67 | 35 | 89 | 291 | 317 | — |

## Winning tournaments
### 2015 Copa América
#### Matches

| Round | Opponent | Score | Result | Scorers | Venue |
| Group stage | Ecuador | 2–0 | W | A. Vidal, E. Vargas | Santiago |
| Group stage | Mexico | 3–3 | D | A. Vidal (2), E. Vargas | Santiago |
| Group stage | Bolivia | 5–0 | W | C. Aránguiz (2), A. Sánchez, G. Medel, R. Raldes (o.g.) | Santiago |
| Quarter-finals | Uruguay | 1–0 | W | M. Isla | Santiago |
| Semi-finals | Peru | 2–1 | W | E. Vargas (2) | Santiago |
| Final | Argentina | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–1 p) | W | | Santiago |

#### Final

| Chile | Argentina |
| GK | 1 | Claudio Bravo (c) |
| CB | 5 | Francisco Silva | 24' |
| CB | 21 | Marcelo Díaz | 34' |
| CB | 17 | Gary Medel | 44' |
| RM | 4 | Mauricio Isla |
| CM | 20 | Charles Aránguiz | 87' |
| CM | 8 | Arturo Vidal |
| LM | 15 | Jean Beausejour |
| AM | 10 | Jorge Valdivia | | 75' |
| CF | 11 | Eduardo Vargas | | 95' |
| CF | 7 | Alexis Sánchez |
| Substitutes: ||
| MF | 14 | Matías Fernández | | 75' |
| FW | 22 | Ángelo Henríquez | | 95' |
| Manager: ||
| Jorge Sampaoli ||
| GK | 1 | Sergio Romero |
| RB | 4 | Pablo Zabaleta |
| CB | 15 | Martín Demichelis |
| CB | 17 | Nicolás Otamendi |
| LB | 16 | Marcos Rojo | 55' |
| RM | 6 | Lucas Biglia |
| CM | 14 | Javier Mascherano | 56' |
| LM | 21 | Javier Pastore | | 81' |
| RW | 10 | Lionel Messi (c) |
| CF | 11 | Sergio Agüero | | 74' |
| LW | 7 | Ángel Di María | | 29' |
| Substitutes: ||
| FW | 22 | Ezequiel Lavezzi | | 29' |
| FW | 9 | Gonzalo Higuaín | | 74' |
| MF | 19 | Éver Banega | 91' | 81' |
| Manager: ||
| Gerardo Martino ||
Man of the Match: Arturo Vidal (Chile)

### 2016 Copa América Centenario
#### Matches

| Round | Opponent | Score | Result | Scorers | Venue |
| Group stage | Argentina | 1–2 | L | J. Fuenzalida | Santa Clara |
| Group stage | Bolivia | 2–1 | W | A. Vidal (2) | Foxboro |
| Group stage | Panama | 4–2 | W | E. Vargas (2), A. Sánchez (2) | Philadelphia |
| Quarter-finals | Mexico | 7–0 | W | E. Vargas (4), E. Puch (2), A. Sánchez | Santa Clara |
| Semi-finals | Colombia | 2–0 | W | C. Aránguiz, J. Fuenzalida | Chicago |
| Final | Argentina | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | W | | East Rutherford |

#### Final

Since the implementation of the new FIFA ruling that a fourth substitute would be allowed in overtime, the Copa América Centenario final was the first match this rule applied to. However, neither team used a fourth substitute.
| Argentina | Chile |
| GK | 1 | Sergio Romero |
| RB | 4 | Gabriel Mercado |
| CB | 17 | Nicolás Otamendi |
| CB | 13 | Ramiro Funes Mori |
| LB | 16 | Marcos Rojo | 43' |
| CM | 6 | Lucas Biglia |
| CM | 14 | Javier Mascherano | 37' |
| CM | 19 | Éver Banega | | 111' |
| RF | 10 | Lionel Messi (c) | 40' |
| CF | 9 | Gonzalo Higuaín | | 70' |
| LF | 7 | Ángel Di María | | 57' |
| Substitutions: ||
| MF | 5 | Matías Kranevitter | 94' | 57' |
| FW | 11 | Sergio Agüero | | 70' |
| MF | 18 | Erik Lamela | | 111' |
| Manager: ||
| Gerardo Martino ||
| GK | 1 | Claudio Bravo (c) |
| RB | 4 | Mauricio Isla |
| CB | 17 | Gary Medel |
| CB | 18 | Gonzalo Jara |
| LB | 15 | Jean Beausejour | 52' |
| CM | 8 | Arturo Vidal | 37' |
| CM | 21 | Marcelo Díaz | 16' 28' |
| CM | 20 | Charles Aránguiz | 69' |
| RW | 6 | José Pedro Fuenzalida | | 80' |
| LW | 7 | Alexis Sánchez | | 104' |
| CF | 11 | Eduardo Vargas | | 109' |
| Substitutions: ||
| FW | 22 | Edson Puch | | 80' |
| MF | 5 | Francisco Silva | | 104' |
| FW | 16 | Nicolás Castillo | | 109' |
| Manager: ||
| Juan Antonio Pizzi ||
* Man of the Match:
* Claudio Bravo (Chile)

## Record by opponent

Chile's biggest victories at Copa América tournaments were a 7–0 win against Venezuela in 1979, and a 7–0 win against Mexico in 2016.
Their biggest defeats were 0–6 losses, one against Brazil in 1919 and one against Uruguay in 1947.
Copa América matches (by team) :
| Opponent | W | D | L | Pld | GF | GA |
| Argentina | 0 | 8 | 22 | 30 | 15 | 62 |
| Bolivia | 11 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 49 | 17 |
| Brazil | 3 | 2 | 17 | 22 | 25 | 61 |
| Canada | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Colombia | 7 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 20 | 11 |
| Costa Rica | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Ecuador | 13 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 47 | 15 |
| Japan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Mexico | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 9 |
| Panama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Paraguay | 7 | 2 | 13 | 22 | 31 | 38 |
| Peru | 8 | 7 | 7 | 22 | 27 | 31 |
| United States | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Uruguay | 7 | 5 | 19 | 31 | 29 | 63 |
| Venezuela | 7 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 25 | 4 |
| Total | 67 | 35 | 89 | 191 | 291 | 317 |

## Record players

| Rank | Player | Matches | Tournaments |
| 1 | Sergio Livingstone | 34 | 1941, 1942, 1945, 1947, 1949 and 1953 |
| 2 | Claudio Bravo | 27 | 2004, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2021 and 2024 |
| 2 | Mauricio Isla | 27 | 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024 |
| 2 | Gary Medel | 27 | 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2021 |
| 5 | Alexis Sánchez | 26 | 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024 |
| 5 | Eduardo Vargas | 26 | 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024 |
| 7 | Arturo Vidal | 24 | 2011, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2021 |
| 8 | Charles Aránguiz | 23 | 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2021 |
| 9 | Manuel Álvarez | 20 | 1947, 1949, 1953, 1955 and 1956 |
| 10 | Gonzalo Jara | 19 | 2007, 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2019 |

## Top goalscorers

| Rank | Player | Goals | Tournaments (goals) |
| 1 | Eduardo Vargas | 14 | 2015 (4), 2016 (6), 2019 (2) and 2021 (2) |
| 2 | Enrique Hormazábal | 10 | 1955 (6) and 1956 (4) |
| 3 | Raúl Toro | 9 | 1937 (7), 1939 (1) and 1941 (1) |
| 4 | David Arellano | 8 | 1924 (1) and 1926 (7) |
| 4 | Iván Zamorano | 8 | 1991 (5) and 1999 (3) |
| 6 | Francisco Molina | 7 | 1953 |
| 6 | Alexis Sánchez | 7 | 2011 (1), 2015 (1), 2016 (3) and 2019 (2) |
| 6 | Arturo Vidal | 7 | 2011 (1), 2015 (3), 2016 (2) and 2019 (1) |
| 9 | Juan Alcántara | 6 | 1945 (5) and 1946 (1) |
| 9 | Jaime Ramírez | 6 | 1955 (1), 1956 (2) and 1957 (3) |

## Players with multiple titles

Fifteen players were part of both the 2015 and 2016 Copa América squads, winning consecutive titles. Johnny Herrera as reserve goalkeeper was a non-playing squad member in both tournaments.
| Player | Championships | Player | Championships |
| Charles Aránguiz | 2 | Gary Medel | 2 |
| Jean Beausejour | 2 | Eugenio Mena | 2 |
| Claudio Bravo | 2 | Mauricio Pinilla | 2 |
| Marcelo Díaz | 2 | Alexis Sánchez | 2 |
| José Pedro Fuenzalida | 2 | Francisco Silva | 2 |
| Johnny Herrera | 2 | Eduardo Vargas | 2 |
| Mauricio Isla | 2 | Arturo Vidal | 2 |
| Gonzalo Jara | 2 |

## Awards and records

Team Awards
* Champions: 2 (2015 and 2016)
* Runners-up: 4 (1955, 1956, 1979 and 1987)
* Third place: 5 (1926, 1941, 1945, 1967 and 1991)
Individual Awards
* MVP 1941: Sergio Livingstone
* MVP 1955: Enrique Hormazábal
* MVP 1979: Carlos Caszely
* MVP 2016: Alexis Sánchez
* Top scorer 1926: David Arellano (7 goals)
* Top scorer 1937: Raúl Toro (7 goals)
* Top scorer 1953: Francisco Molina (7 goals)
* Top scorer 1956: Enrique Hormazábal (4 goals)
* Top scorer 1979: Jorge Peredo (4 goals) (shared)
* Top scorer 2015: Eduardo Vargas (4 goals) (shared)
* Top scorer 2016: Eduardo Vargas (6 goals)
* Best goalkeeper 2015: Claudio Bravo
* Best goalkeeper 2016: Claudio Bravo
Team records
* Victory with highest number of goals conceded (5–4 v Peru in 1955; tied with Brazil 6–4 Chile in 1937 and Bolivia 5–4 Brazil in 1963)
Individual Records
* Most matches: Sergio Livingstone (34, shared with Lionel Messi)
* Longest time span between two matches: David Pizarro (15 years and 333 days, semi-final v Uruguay in 1999 to group match v Ecuador in 2015)