There are people who argue that South America's is better than theÌý. It's a perverse view, often motivated by bitterness - a bit like those who like to claim that were over-rated.
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The Champions League congregates the best players from all over the world - it's where they want to be, and where they need to shine these days in order to be considered truly great. But if Europe's leading club competition is Lennon and McCartney, it doesn't necessarily follow that the Libertadores is , as last week made abundantly and gloriously clear.
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The reigning champions can be beaten in the Champions League - Barcelona can be spoiled and marked and frustrated, of Russia last October. But it's hard to imagine them being ripped apart in the group phase by rank outsiders, as happened to their South American counterparts in the Libertadores last Thursday.
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As a general rule, I prefer to make my predictions after the event - I find it does wonders for their accuracy. But if you're going to put yourself on the line and make a forecast, there's one situation where getting it wrong is a pleasure - when someone turns out to be better than you expected.
For me, is in that category. He might be under pressure and it could be that losing to Manchester United in the Champions League might cost him his job, but the Brazilian has made a better, and certainly a bolder, fist of it than I imagined.
Leonardo was never a great player. He was a good one, but was probably more impressive as a man than as a footballer. In the dressing room, he was seen as the wise head who could find the right thing to say.
He came from a relatively wealthy background, but whereas some in Brazil use privilege as a safety net, for him it served as a springboard to self-improvement. Always concerned with those less fortunate then himself, he set up the institution to aid the educational formation of poor kids in Rio and Sao Paulo, in collaboration with former team-mate Rai.
But could he call the shots at a big club like Milan? I had my doubts.
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One of the less orthodox after effects of swine flu is the headache it gives the administrators of South America's premier club competition.
In last year's version of the Copa Libertadores, two Mexican sides, and , made it out of the group phase.
But how could they stage the home leg of their second round ties? It was at the height of the with Mexico at its epicentre.
The South American Federation unsuccessfully tried to find an alternate venue, gave up and announced that the fate of the Mexican clubs would be decided on a single match, the away leg.
Chivas and San Luis pulled out in protest, and Mexico - which is in North America and participates in the tournament on an invitation basis - broke off relations with South American football.
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Rene has walked away. And like the empty sidewalks in the old Four Tops hit, football is not the same. The game will miss .
The eccentric Colombian keeper bid farewell with an exhibition match last week.
Of course, he had to produce the famous 'scorpion' save one last time. But for all its novelty value, the 'scorpion' is not the reason for Higuita's importance. Nor, in the final analysis, are the goals he scored. His free-kicks and penalties were no circus act, and they inspired a line of goalscoring South American goalkeepers.
No, there is a better reason for Higuita to be remembered. He was years ahead of his time.
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I cover South American football from Brazil. There's a wealth of talent and a rich culture - a fascinating continent to follow football.
