Rio de Janeiro - Veteran midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron was hailed Thursday after leading Argentine club Estudiantes to its fourth Copa Libertadores title, the first in 39 years.

"Veron hypnotized Cruzeiro. The 'Little Witch' completed his spell," the Brazilian daily Folha de Sao Paulo said.

The club from La Plata - the capital of the Buenos Aires province, about 55 kilometres away from the Argentine capital - had been held to a goalless home draw against Cruzeiro a week earlier, but the obtained a key comeback 2-1 win in their visit to the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte late Wednesday to claim the prestigious title.

Henrique had put the host ahead in the 51st minute, but Gaston Fernandez equalized just six minutes later. In the 73rd minute, a header from Mauro Boselli off a Veron corner kick sealed the definitive 2-1.

At 34, Veron was unanimously considered the soul of this Estudiantes team. The midfielder's father, Juan Ramon Veron, had been part of the Team that won the club's first three Libertadores titles, in 1968-70.

The younger Veron - who played for Parma, Lazio, Manchester United, Chelsea and Inter Milan, among others, before returning to the team he emerged from and supports in 2006 - was delighted with the trophy.

"At this point we just want to really celebrate the conquest of the Copa Libertadores, because it was not easy to get to this moment," Veron told the German Press Agency dpa in the early hour of Thursday.

"I would trade all my achievements, everything I won in Europe, for this title," he had said ahead of Wednesday's decisive game.

Coach Alejandro Sabella was generous in his praise of his best player.

"I think Veron is the most decisive player for Estudiantes La Plata since (the club) was created," he said.

Celebrations in La Plata extended into the night.

With the Libertadores title, Estudiantes earned the right to play the FIFA Club World Cup. (dpa)