Boca Juniors and Brazil: a history of iconic nights and mixed fortunes
Xeneize stands as the South American club with the most victories on Brazilian soil, yet a curious paradox marks its record: dominant in many clashes, but four losses still stand out in the ledger. Across decades, the blue and gold have carved memorable nights in Brazil, where they also hold a remarkable continental tally: ten triumphs in Brazilian venues in international competitions, more than any other team on the continent. The most recent highlight cited was a 1-0 win by Inter over Boca in Porto Alegre during the round of 16 in the 2020 Libertadores edition, a match that carried extra weight as Carlitos Tevez paid tribute to Diego Maradona just days after the legend’s passing (Goal).
Yet the road has not always been favorable. In 2021, the journey in samba land yielded two setbacks within six months. January brought a resounding 0-3 defeat to Santos in the semifinals of the 2020 edition, and July delivered a painful penalties loss to Atlético Mineiro after a controversial VAR performance and a locker room controversy that led to several sanctions. In 2022, Corinthians—another familiar adversary—eliminated Boca in the group stage, repeating the same 2-0 score that had denied Boca a recent Brazilian conquest. The first-leg draw against Timão in the eighth finals, ending 0-0, underscored the stubborn challenges faced on Brazilian soil (Goal).
When does Boca play in Brazil?
Beyond the defeats, there are chapters of triumph that linger in memory: the 2008 semifinal loss to Fluminense and the tough first-leg setback in the 1963 final against Santos. But the defining nights are those that elevated trophies or forged unforgettable moments against Paysandú and Vasco da Gama. A dramatic 2-2 semi-final against Verdao in 2001, the stalemate with Sao Paulo that helped Boca win the 2006 Cup Winners’ Cup—these episodes remain etched in the folklore of Boca Juniors’ fans.
On the whole, Boca’s record in Brazil appears weighted toward the negative when viewed through a broad lens. In a head-to-head tally across 49 matches in the country, the club has 10 wins, 20 draws, and 19 losses. Yet the Libertadores Cup balance is strikingly even: 31 appearances in Brazil, with 9 wins, 11 draws, and 11 losses—an equilibrium that underscores the continent’s most prestigious club competition’s unpredictable nature when played far from home (Goal).
Moreover, the policy of continental qualification has been notably effective for Boca since the reform of 1989, which introduced the now-familiar bracket of 16 teams per round. Since then, Boca has converted 11 of 13 mutual ties in its favor, only falling to Fluminense in 2008 and losing the 2012 final to Corinthians, with that 2010s run including a semifinal defeat to Santos. The current record reads 11 wins in 15 ties—still an illustration of the club’s enduring capability to navigate foreign stages in the Libertadores (Goal).
ALL BOCA VICTORIES IN BRAZIL
LIBERTADORES CUP 1978: Atletico Mineiro 1-2 Boca
MERCOSUR CUP 1998: Flamengo 0-2 Boca
LIBERTADORES CUP 2001: Vasco da Gama 0-1 Boca
LIBERTADORES CUP 2003: Paysandú 2-4 Boca
LIBERTADORES CUP 2003: Saints 1-3 Boca
LIBERTADORES CUP 2007: Gremio 0-2 Boca
LIBERTADORES CUP 2008: Cruzeiro 1-2 Boca
LIBERTADORES CUP 2012: Fluminense 0-2 Boca
LIBERTADORES CUP 2019: Athletico Paranaense 0-1 Boca
LIBERTADORES CUP 2020: Internacional 0-1 Boca