Antonio Puerta Trophy

Lore & Background

The tournament was first played on 23 August 2008 against Málaga, a team promoted to La Liga that year. It also served to commemorate the victims of the Spanair Flight 5022 aviation accident, which occurred three days before. In 2009, the opponent was Xerez, another promoted team. The 2010 edition was played in November during a Liga BBVA break, and for the first time Sevilla lost the final match, against Granada, the team promoted that season to Liga Adelante. The 2011 edition returned to summer and featured Espanyol, the first non-Andalusian guest, chosen because Espanyol had suffered a similar tragedy with the death of player Daniel Jarque in 2009. In 2012, the match was played on 8 August against Deportivo La Coruña, a traditional Sevilla 'friend' team. The 2016 edition saw Boca Juniors, winners of the 2015 Argentine Primera División, become the first non-Spanish team to participate; about 2,000 visiting supporters attended, and Boca Juniors players wore a patch displaying Puerta's number 16. Carlos Tevez was man of the match with two goals and two assists. The 2023 edition also formed the inaugural UEFA–CONMEBOL Club Challenge, a one-off match between the champions of the UEFA Europa League and Copa Sudamericana.

Reader's Guide

The Antonio Puerta Trophy serves as an annual memorial for a young Sevilla FC player whose sudden death during a match shocked Spanish football. The tournament has evolved from a local pre-season friendly into an international event, hosting teams from Spain and, since 2016, from South America. Its significance lies in its dual role: honoring Puerta's memory and, in some editions, commemorating other tragedies such as the Spanair Flight 5022 crash. The inclusion of Espanyol in 2011 highlighted solidarity between clubs that lost players on the field. The 2023 edition's integration with the UEFA–CONMEBOL Club Challenge marked a rare intercontinental club competition, linking Puerta's legacy to broader football diplomacy. The tournament's consistent scheduling and varied opponents reflect Sevilla FC's commitment to keeping Puerta's name alive in the football community.

Did You Know?

• The 2008 edition also commemorated victims of the Spanair Flight 5022 accident, which occurred three days before the match.
• The 2010 edition was the first time Sevilla lost the final match of the tournament.
• In 2016, Boca Juniors players wore a patch displaying the number 16 worn by Antonio Puerta.