[5] Up until 2023, Santos was one of only five clubs never to have been relegated from the top level of Brazilian football, the others being São Paulo and Flamengo.

[7] In 1962, Santos became the first club in the world to win the continental treble consisting of the Paulista, Taça Brasil, and the Copa Libertadores.

[11][12] It is the most prestigious club competition in South American football and one of the most watched events in the world, broadcast in 135 nations worldwide.

[13] The tournament is named in honor of the Libertadores (Portuguese and Spanish for Liberators), the main leaders of the South American wars of independence.

In 1966, the runners-up of the South American leagues began to join; in 1998, Mexican teams were invited to compete.

The winner of the Copa Libertadores becomes eligible to play in two extra tournaments: the FIFA Club World Cup and the Recopa Sudamericana.

The Recopa Sudamericana de Campeones Intercontinentales was a club competition contested annually by the past South American winners of the Intercontinental Cup.

The Copa CONMEBOL was an annual cup competition played between 1992 and 1999 for eligible South American football clubs.

During its time of existence, it was the third most prestigious South American club football contest after the Copa Libertadores and Supercopa Sudamericana.