1957 Latin Cup

1957 club football tournament June 2022 June 2022 Latin Cup 1957 Copa Latina de 1957 Spain 1945 20–23 June 1957 4 1 1 1 Spain 1945 Real Madrid 2 Portugal Benfica Italy Milan France 1830 Saint-Étienne 4 15 340000 Spain 1945 Paco Gento (3 goals) 1956 The 1957 Latin Cup (es Copa Latina de 1957) was the eighth and final edition of the annual Latin Cup. It was contested by the domestic league champions the Southwest European nations of France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. The clubs which competed in the tournament were Saint-Étienne, Milan, Benfica, and Real Madrid. The four-match knockout tournament, was hosted in Madrid, Spain at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. In the semifinals on 20 June, SL Benfica defeated AS Saint-Étienne by a score of 1–0, and Real Madrid CF defeated AC Milan by a score of 5–1. The third place match was held on 23 June, where AC Milan defeated AS Saint-Étienne 4–3. The final, which was held on the same day, saw Real Madrid CF claim its second Latin Cup title in a 1–0 victory. A total of 15 goals were scored in the tournament, and Real Madrid's Paco Gento was the top goalscorer with 3 goals, all of which were scored against AC Milan in the semifinals. Real Madrid had won the 1956–57 European Cup less than one month before the 1957 Latin Cup and became one of only three teams, together with FC Barcelona and AC Milan, to win the Latin Cup on two occasions. Additionally, the country of Spain was awarded a trophy for its overall success in the prior four Latin Cups. Participating teams The Latin Cup was an international club tournament which was contested by the domestic league champions of France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. The tournament served as a regional championship for Southwestern Europe, similar to the Mitropa Cup for Central Europe and Balkans Cup for the Balkans, prior to the establishment of the European Cup.https://breakingthelines.com/historical/the-copa-latina-a-false-dawn-for-continental-football-in-europe/ The Copa Latina: A False Dawn for Continental Football in Europe 17 June 2020 8 June 2022 Adam Williams Breaking the Lines en The following league champions qualified for the 1957 Latin Cup: Team Method of qualification Previous appearanceshttps://www.rsssf.org/tablesl/latin.html Latin Cup 20 August 2015 6 June 2022 RSSSF en Karel Stokkermans Osvaldo José Gorgazzi France 1830 Saint-Étienne 1956–57 French Division 1 champions Debut Italy Milan (defending champions) 1956–57 Serie A champions 1951, 1953, 1955, 1956 Portugal Benfica 1956–57 Primeira Divisão champions 1950, 1956 Spain 1945 Real Madrid 1956–57 La Liga champions 1955 Venues The host of the tournament was Spain and all matches were played at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. Madrid Spain 330 center Spain 40.453056 -3.688333 Madrid right Santiago Bernabéu Stadium 40 27 11 N 3 41 18 W inline Capacity: 75,000 200px|The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in 1955. Tournament Semifinals Lots were drawn to determine the semifinal matches of the 1957 Latin Cup, and both semifinal matches were held on 20 June. The first match was Benfica versus Saint-Étienne. The match was refereed by Daniel Zariquiegui Izco of the Spanish Football Federation and resulted in a 1–0 victory for Benfica; Portuguese midfielder Francisco Calado scored the match's lone goal.February 2026 The second match was Real Madrid versus Milan. Not only were both clubs champions of their respective domestic leagues, but Milan was the Latin Cup's defending champion and Real Madrid had just won its second consecutive European Cup title in Madrid on 30 May 1957.https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2020/05/30/sixty-third-anniversary-of-clubs-second-european-cup-triumph Sixty-Third Anniversary of Club's Second European Cup Triumph en 8 June 2022 30 May 2020 RealMadrid.comhttps://elpais.com/deportes/2016/09/25/actualidad/1474828624_248363.html La Curiosa Aventura de la Copa Latina The Curious Adventure of the Latin Cup Alfredo Relaño 26 September 2016 8 June 2022 es El País The match refereed by Marcel Lequesne of the French Football Federation and resulted in a 5–1 victory for Real Madrid. Spanish forward Paco Gento scored the tournament's only hat-trick during the match, scoring three goals.February 2026 Benfica v Saint-Étienne 20 June 1957 19:30 +1 1–0 Benfica Portugal Calado 17 France 1830 Saint-Étienne February 2026 Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Madrid, Spain 80,000https://iffhs.com/en/news/latin-cup-1957-real-madrid-cf-winner-986 Latin Cup 1957 – Real Madrid CF Winner 5 March 2021 4 October 2022 en International Federation of Football History & Statistics Daniel Zariquiegui Izco (Spain) _whiteborder _benfica6061 _whiteborder DD0000 DD0000 DD0000 FFFFFF DD0000 Benfica 2C9656 2C9656 2C9656 FFFFFF 2C9656 Saint-Étienne GK Portugal José de Bastos DF Portugal Ângelo Martins DF Portugal Manuel Francisco Serra MF Portugal Zézinho MF Portugal Alfredo Abrantes MF Portugal Mário Coluna MF Portugal Fernando Caiado MF Portugal Francisco Calado (c) FW Portugal Domiciano Cavém FW Portugal Francisco Palmeiro FW Portugal José Águas Manager: Brazil 1889 Otto Glória GK France 1830 Claude Abbes DF France 1830 Michel Tylinski DF France 1830 François Wicart MF France 1830 René Domingo MF France 1830 René Ferrier MF France 1830 Yvon Goujon MF Algeria 1830 Rachid Mekhloufi MF France 1830 Jean Oleksiak FW France 1830 Georges Peyroche FW France 1830 Armand Fouillen FW Cameroon 1957 Eugène N'Jo Léa Manager: France 1830 Jean Snella Real v Milan 20 June 1957 21:30 +1 5–1 Real Madrid Spain 1945 Gento 20 47 85 Di Stéfano 50 Joseíto 83 Italy Milan Cucchiaroni 30 February 2026 Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Madrid, Spain 80,000 Marcel Lequesne (France) _RM1955b FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Real Madrid _black stripes thin1 _milan4347h _black stripes thin1 _redtop FF0000 000000 FF0000 FFFFFF 000000 Milan GK Spain 1945 Juan Alonso (c) DF Spain 1945 Marquitos DF Spain 1945 Rafael Lesmes DF Spain 1945 Manuel Torres Pastor MF Spain 1945 Miguel Muñoz MF Spain 1945 Antonio Ruiz Cervilla MF Spain 1945 Joseíto FW Spain 1945 Héctor Rial FW Spain 1945 Paco Gento FW Spain 1945 Alfredo Di Stéfano FW France 1830 Raymond Kopa Manager: Spain 1945 José Villalonga GK Italy Lorenzo Buffon DF Italy Cesare Maldini DF Italy Luigi Radice MF Italy Eros Beraldo MF Sweden Nils Liedholm (c) MF Italy Luigi Zannier MF Italy Alfio Fontana FW Italy Amos Mariani FW Argentina Eduardo Ricagni FW Norway Per Bredesen FW Argentina Ernesto Cucchiaroni Manager: Italy Giuseppe Viani Third place match Milan and Saint-Étienne faced each other in the third place match on 23 June. The match was refereed by Joaquim Fernandes de Campos of the Portuguese Football Federation. Saint-Étienne took an early lead with a 9th minute goal from François Wicart, however, consecutive goals from Milan in the 18th minute by Eduardo Ricagni, the 42nd minute by Amos Mariani, and the 70th minute by Nils Liedholm helped give Milan a 3–1 lead. Saint-Étienne responded with goals from Rachid Mekhloufi in the 78th minute and Eugène N'Jo Léa in the 80th minute to level the match at 3–3, but a goal from Nils Liedholm in the 88th minute allowed Milan to defeat Saint-Étienne by a final score of 4–3.February 2026 Milan v Saint-Étienne 23 June 1957 19:30 +1 4–3 Milan Italy Ricagni 18 Mariani 42 Bredesen 70 Liedholm 88 France 1830 Saint-Étienne Wicart 9 Mekhloufi 78 N'Jo Léa 80 February 2026 Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Madrid, Spain 90,000 Joaquim Campos (Portugal) _black stripes thin1 _milan4347h _black stripes thin1 _redtop FF0000 000000 FF0000 FFFFFF 000000 Milan 2C9656 2C9656 2C9656 FFFFFF 2C9656 Saint-Étienne GK Italy Lorenzo Buffon DF Italy Cesare Maldini DF Italy Luigi Radice MF Italy Eros Beraldo MF Sweden Nils Liedholm (c) MF Italy Luigi Zannier MF Italy Alfio Fontana FW Italy Amos Mariani FW Argentina Eduardo Ricagni FW Norway Per Bredesen FW Argentina Ernesto Cucchiaroni Manager: Italy Giuseppe Viani GK France 1830 Claude Abbes DF France 1830 Michel Tylinski DF France 1830 François Wicart MF France 1830 René Domingo MF France 1830 René Ferrier MF France 1830 Yvon Goujon MF Algeria 1830 Rachid Mekhloufi MF France 1830 Jean Oleksiak FW France 1830 Georges Peyroche FW France 1830 Armand Fouillen FW Cameroon 1957 Eugène N'Jo Léa Manager: France 1830 Jean Snella Final The final match was contested by Real Madrid and Benfica on 23 June 1957; Lequesne was the match's referee.February 2026 Both clubs had previously won the tournament, as Benfica defeated FC Girondins de Bordeaux in 1950 and Real Madrid defeated Stade de Reims in 1955. During the final, Spanish forward Alfredo Di Stéfano scored the match's lone goal at the 50th minute for Real Madrid in a 1–0 victory.February 2026 Additionally, Portuguese midfielder Zézinho received the only red card of the tournament during the match in the 54th minute. The 1957 Latin Cup was Real Madrid's second Latin Cup title, and Real Madrid was the Latin Cup's last ever champion.https://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2020/06/23/on-this-day-real-madrid-lifted-clubs-second-latin-cup On 23 June 1957, Madrid Overcame Benfica in the Final Following a 1–0 Win. en 8 June 2022 23 June 2020 RealMadrid.com Real v Benfica 23 June 1957 21:30 +1 1–0 Real Madrid Spain 1945 Di Stéfano 50 Portugal Benfica February 2026 Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Madrid, Spain 90,000 Marcel Lequesne (France) _RM1955b FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF Real Madrid _whiteborder _benfica6061 _whiteborder DD0000 DD0000 DD0000 FFFFFF DD0000 Benfica GK Spain 1945 Juan Alonso DF Spain 1945 Marquitos DF Spain 1945 Rafael Lesmes DF Spain 1945 Manuel Torres Pastor MF Spain 1945 Miguel Muñoz (c) MF Spain 1945 Antonio Ruiz Cervilla MF Spain 1945 Joseíto FW Spain 1945 Héctor Rial FW Spain 1945 Paco Gento FW Spain 1945 Alfredo Di Stéfano FW France 1830 Raymond Kopa Manager: Spain 1945 José Villalonga GK Portugal José de Bastos DF Portugal Ângelo Martins DF Portugal Manuel Francisco Serra MF Portugal Zézinho 0 54 MF Portugal Alfredo Abrantes MF Portugal Mário Coluna MF Portugal Fernando Caiado (c) MF Portugal Francisco Calado FW Portugal Domiciano Cavém FW Portugal Francisco Palmeiro FW Portugal José Águas Manager: Brazil 1889 Otto Glória 1957 Latin Cup Champions Francoist Spain Real Madrid 2nd Bracket 20 June – Madrid Spain 1945 Real Madrid 5 Italy Milan 1 20 June – Madrid Portugal Benfica 1 France 1830 Saint-Étienne 0 23 June – Madrid Spain 1945 Real Madrid 1 Portugal Benfica 0 23 June – Madrid Italy Milan 4 France 1830 Saint-Étienne 3 Semifinals Final Third place match Statistics Goalscorers thumb|right|Paco Gento was the leading goalscorer, scoring 3 goals in a hat-trick against Milan in the semifinals. A total of 15 goals were scored during the tournament: 6 by Real Madrid, 5 by Milan, 3 by Saint-Étienne, and 1 by Benfica. Gento was the tournament's top scorer, scoring 3 goals in a hat-trick against Milan in the semifinals.February 2026 Di Stéfano scored the tournament's final goal—the lone goal in the final match against Benfica.February 2026 Rank Player Team Goals 1 Spain 1945 Paco Gento Spain 1945 Real Madrid 3 2 Spain 1945 Alfredo Di Stéfano Spain 1945 Real Madrid 2 3 Spain 1945 Joseíto Spain 1945 Real Madrid 1 France 1830 François Wicart France 1830 Saint-Étienne Algeria 1830 Rachid Mekhloufi France 1830 Saint-Étienne Cameroon 1957 Eugène N'Jo Léa France 1830 Saint-Étienne Italy Eduardo Ricagni Italy Milan Italy Amos Mariani Italy Milan Argentina Ernesto Cucchiaroni Italy Milan Norway Per Bredesen Italy Milan Sweden Nils Liedholm Italy Milan Portugal Francisco Calado Portugal Benfica Source:February 2026 Aftermath The 1957 Latin Cup was the final edition of the tournament ever hosted. As happened in 1954, the 1958 edition of the tournament was canceled due to the conflicting schedule of the 1958 FIFA World Cup. Due to the rising popularity of the European Cup, however, the tournament was not hosted again. After the tournament, the four nations which participated in the 1953, 1955, 1956, and 1957 editions of the tournament were allocated points based on their clubs' performances. Spain, which won the 1955 and 1957 editions, was awarded a trophy for topping the other three nations in point totals. R Final Ranking Nation 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Pts. Points 1. Spain 1945 2 1 – 1 12 2. Italy 1 1 2 – 11 3. France 1830 1 1 – 2 9 4. Portugal – 1 2 1 8 See also 1957 Mitropa Cup, a similar competition References External links Latin Cup (Full Results) (in English) from RSSSF Association football France Italy Portugal Spain Category:Latin Cup Category:1956–57 in Spanish men's football Category:June 1957 sports events in Europe Category:Football competitions in Madrid Category:1956–57 in European men's continental football Category:1950s in Madrid