CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OR COPA LIBERTADORES?

Many people believe that the Champions League is the most important and prestigious clubs’ tournament in the world. As a matter of fact, however, in the direct matches between the Champions League winning team and the Copa Libertadores de América (i.e. the South American “sister” competition) winning team, the latter is generally more successful. Since 1960 the clubs’ World Champion title was awarded, without the endorsement of FIFA, with the Intercontinental Cup (created by an idea of Santiago Bernabeu, the great madridist president) which was replaced by the FIFA Club World Championship in 2006. The South American clubs, since a few years deprived of their best talents who leave to wear the European clubs shirts,  won 21 out of the 24 matches played up to now. Is it, then, true that the best football is played in Europe? And how come that the South American clubs more often win the direct contests?