If there's one illustrious team that will surely miss the Copa Libertadores in its 2024 edition, it's Boca Juniors. The team from La Ribera failed to secure their ticket after a forgettable last semester of 2023, during which they suffered another tremendous setback in the major continental tournament.

After losing the two previous finals, Boca faced Fluminense in the last match. It was their third chance to win their seventh Libertadores title and equal Independiente as the team with the most titles in the tournament, but the popular saying that the third time's the charm was not going to come true on this occasion.

Not even the presence of Edinson Cavani on the Maracanã pitch brought luck to the Xeneize, who suffered defeat in the final once again, as they did in 2012 and 2018. Fans will especially remember this last one with bitterness. It was their eternal rival, River Plate, who left them empty-handed in that final played at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Now, after being knocked out of the Libertadores, Diego Martínez's team has their sights set on the Copa Sudamericana. It's a competition in which La Ribera's team has not participated for almost ten years, and their last memory is also linked to their eternal rival, and not exactly for good.

However, Boca now has a golden opportunity to make history in the Copa Sudamericana. If they win it, with three conquests, they would become the most decorated team in the tournament. They will certainly not lack motivation.