It all began at five in the evening (local time) with the final of the 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores in Rio de Janeiro, at a packed Maracaná Stadium. The match pitted six-time champions Boca Juniors of Argentine against Fluminense of Brazil, who had never won the title before, losing a final to Ecuador's Liga de Quito in 2008.

The game had been threatened by fan violence, a problem that continues to plague football and seems to have no end in sight. Argentine striker Germán 'Predator' Cano put 'Flu' ahead in the 36th minute, and Peruvian Luis Advíncula (formerly of Spanish side Rayo Vallecano) levelled with 14 minutes remaining.

The final went into extra time, and a 99th-minute goal from young Brazilian talent John Kennedy sealed the title for the Brazilians, who successfully defended their lead in the second half of extra time. Fluminense boasts the services of 35-year-old Brazilian full-back Marcelo, a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid.

Nearly 4,000 kilometres southwest of Rio, in Santiago, Chile, the match for Pan American Games gold medal match between hosts Chile and Brazil kicked off just minutes after the Libertadores final ended. The Susalito Stadium was bursting at the seams with more than 20,000 spectators.

It was an intense game, with plenty of back-and-forth between players under the age of 23, with three possible exceptions, just like at the Olympics. Chilean striker Maxi Guerrero of Deportes la Serena opened the scoring with a header three minutes before half-time. Brazilian Ronald of Gremio equalised in the 83rd minute to send the match into extra time. With the scoreline unchanged, the championship was decided on penalties.

Matheus Nascimento, Ronald, and Miranda scored for Brazil (Figueiredo's shot was saved by Jonathan Villagra), while Fuentes and Zaldivia converted for Chile, with Villagra and Clemente Montes failing to find the net. Leading 3-2 going into the fifth round, the Brazilian team had the chance to claim the title they had won on four previous occasions, most recently at Indianapolis in 1987

Manager Ramon Menezes had chosen 19-year-old goalkeeper Mycael (from Brazilian side Atlético Paranaeanse) as his fifth penalty taker. Mycael stepped up confidently and skilfully, placed the ball, made his run and scored the winning goal. In the space of three hours, Fluminense and Brazil had won the Libertadores and the men's Panam Games.