In 1942, Uruguay won their eighth South American Soccer Championship, today known as the presitigous CONMEBOL Copa America. The Uruguayan capital city of Montevideo hosted the tournament, which saw each of the seven entrants (Uruguay, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Ecuador) face each other once each. The tournament came down to the final match, between Uruguay and Argentina, to decide the winner of the tournament. In a terse contest at Estadio Centenario, the host nation emerged the 1-0 victors behind a 57th minute strike from Nacional forward Bibiano Zapirain. Uruguay topped the final table with a perfect 6-0 record in the tournament, having surrendered just two goals the entire tournament.

Offered in this lot is a medal from the 1942 South American Championship originating from the estate of Obdulio Jacinto Varela, the star and captain of Uruguay’s seminal 1950 World Cup team. This medal is bronze in color, with an image of an indigenous archer etched on the front in high relief. Also etched on this face of the medal is “America” and “Complira Su Destino”. Etched on the back of the medal is “XIV Campeonato Sudamericano De Football” and “Homenaje Asociacion Uruguaya De Football Montevideo 1942”. The medal measures approximately two inches in diameter and is in good condition. This item comes with a LOA confirming it is part of the Rony Almeida Soccer Collection.

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