![River Plate fans celebrate their team's victory in the final of the Copa Libertadores, in Buenos Aires. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HC7LYBSVLPOKAZZAM6IIJIO6I4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c291b7d4303b4980540d811153352278a79c0ddacef2461747df9b7bf9c73c81&width=400&height=225)
![Colombian footballer James Rodriguez poses with fans as he takes his seat at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2E4XWKPRJN674WNXUTDFFDI6JQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ca007c6d454c118e0c36e4e602bdf00e846f9cc0a222b3b9d2d97c59fd7d1af8&width=400&height=225)
![James Rodriguez (left) and Javier Zanetti look on from the stands prior to the second leg of the final match. Getty Images](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YKISFDLGS5EAHDUJMNS3ERDOLY.jpg?smart=true&auth=a1b7931eb042775849582091f8b99ec0a90ad91b282e82ca2ad0631ea9a49cd1&width=400&height=225)
![Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi with Wanda Nara in the stadium before the match. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HYGIVS2PLGSDIL6DYDEGCZFJCA.jpg?smart=true&auth=a1dd2669f6138846915fab19cfa605d63a16365841b415b8c370b86cca4915d5&width=400&height=225)
![The coach of Spain's Atletico Madrid, Argentine Diego Simeone (left), is seen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid before thet start of the second leg match. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SDCDXWY5J4EL4GE3EE7DB2UCUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=dfae5e543889fda6da5ae3aea7298360da3fe0dbf5be830960f56a1333464ec2&width=400&height=225)
![Marcelo Gallardo, coach of Argentina's River Plate, second from left, celebrates with the trophy after his team defeated Argentina's Boca Juniors. AP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PXLRD76P4RXTO4HU7NSA42SIHM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f2827917c0d4c0fbf63443fbd8ade8733a7a7d17c66839e94d7ba440bf3f9f10&width=400&height=225)
![Exequiel Palacios, Lucas Martinez Quarta, and Gonzalo Martinez of River Plate celebrate following their sides victory. Getty Images](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KW34X26IUJKWWZA4GLCRRNNJPQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a3c15686e9f35655f2ce6de069a4976cf3b1caf9da5439e643ceeafa0ccf8971&width=400&height=225)
![Fans of River Plate celebrate at the Plaza de la Republica square in Buenos Aires. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JBIHMRWLVSQNV3UHWLHHZ4RBAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb3893ace3ef11cdebdcb8440e4d5ceea66ff3b1f5d57a03f873cc4e10de403d&width=400&height=225)
![River Plate fans celebrate their team's victory in the final of the Copa Libertadores, in Buenos Aires. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HC7LYBSVLPOKAZZAM6IIJIO6I4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c291b7d4303b4980540d811153352278a79c0ddacef2461747df9b7bf9c73c81&width=400&height=225)
![Colombian footballer James Rodriguez poses with fans as he takes his seat at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2E4XWKPRJN674WNXUTDFFDI6JQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ca007c6d454c118e0c36e4e602bdf00e846f9cc0a222b3b9d2d97c59fd7d1af8&width=400&height=225)
![James Rodriguez (left) and Javier Zanetti look on from the stands prior to the second leg of the final match. Getty Images](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YKISFDLGS5EAHDUJMNS3ERDOLY.jpg?smart=true&auth=a1b7931eb042775849582091f8b99ec0a90ad91b282e82ca2ad0631ea9a49cd1&width=400&height=225)
![Inter Milan's Mauro Icardi with Wanda Nara in the stadium before the match. Reuters](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HYGIVS2PLGSDIL6DYDEGCZFJCA.jpg?smart=true&auth=a1dd2669f6138846915fab19cfa605d63a16365841b415b8c370b86cca4915d5&width=400&height=225)
![The coach of Spain's Atletico Madrid, Argentine Diego Simeone (left), is seen at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid before thet start of the second leg match. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SDCDXWY5J4EL4GE3EE7DB2UCUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=dfae5e543889fda6da5ae3aea7298360da3fe0dbf5be830960f56a1333464ec2&width=400&height=225)
![Marcelo Gallardo, coach of Argentina's River Plate, second from left, celebrates with the trophy after his team defeated Argentina's Boca Juniors. AP Photo](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PXLRD76P4RXTO4HU7NSA42SIHM.jpg?smart=true&auth=f2827917c0d4c0fbf63443fbd8ade8733a7a7d17c66839e94d7ba440bf3f9f10&width=400&height=225)
![Exequiel Palacios, Lucas Martinez Quarta, and Gonzalo Martinez of River Plate celebrate following their sides victory. Getty Images](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KW34X26IUJKWWZA4GLCRRNNJPQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=a3c15686e9f35655f2ce6de069a4976cf3b1caf9da5439e643ceeafa0ccf8971&width=400&height=225)
![Fans of River Plate celebrate at the Plaza de la Republica square in Buenos Aires. AFP](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JBIHMRWLVSQNV3UHWLHHZ4RBAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=bb3893ace3ef11cdebdcb8440e4d5ceea66ff3b1f5d57a03f873cc4e10de403d&width=400&height=225)
![River Plate fans celebrate their team's victory in the final of the Copa Libertadores, in Buenos Aires. EPA](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HC7LYBSVLPOKAZZAM6IIJIO6I4.jpg?smart=true&auth=c291b7d4303b4980540d811153352278a79c0ddacef2461747df9b7bf9c73c81&width=400&height=225)
Messi, Rodriguez and Griezmann: Football's top stars turn out in Madrid for River Plate v Boca Juniors
The Copa Libertadores final drew the cream of South American football – though the biggest names were in the crowd rather than on the pitch
![Ian Oxborrow](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F17d8e8ae-9d4c-4c39-9df9-321a626a521f.png?smart=true&auth=6235a7864f7cbc035d8070e77b37d3fcc19ce99154bfca710e2ca34c776c2e10&width=70&height=70)
Ian Oxborrow
December 10, 2018
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