Brazil's unprecedented domination of the Copa Libertadores -- no country has ever come close to winning seven titles in a row -- has come about despite the mammoth amount of minutes the nation's top players have to play.

Flamengo and Palmeiras have broken away from the pack. The two giants have now claimed the last five continental titles between them, and, in the next few days, Flamengo look likely to wrap up the Brazilian Serie A title too -- prolonging the celebrations after winning the Saturday's Libertadores final 1-0 . Palmeiras, for their part, will run a close second in a championship that has been won by either the Mengão or the Verdão in seven of the last 10 seasons.

The price the two clubs pay for such success is an accumulation of matches and a burden on the pl

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