Cata Domínguez closing in on Cristóbal Ortega’s Liga MX record
Ortega spent 18 years with the same club in the Liga MX. Between 1974 and 1992, he made a total of 608 appearances with América. Cata is the only player close to equalling it.
Cruz Azul’s Julio César Domínguez is the only player in the Liga MX still in activity who has a chance of reaching the historic mark set by América midfielder, Cristóbal Ortega. During the 18 years of his career, between 1974 and 1992, Ortega made 608 appearances with just one club - América.
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Centre-back Domínguez, who has been with Cruz Azul for the past 16 years, has played a total of 547 games in the Máquina’s back four, which leaves him 61 games behind Ortega’s record. Understandably, he will be trying to remain active and play as many matches as possible in the Clausura 2023, which kicks off this weekend.
For Cata, accumulating another 61 games will be far from a simple task - it won’t be easy for him to maintain consistency and play every game. Counting all of the 17 regular seasons games plus a further seven Liguilla games in the event that Cruz Azul enter via the playoffs and make it to the final, Cata could add another 24 games to his tally - if he plays every one.
However , in order to get closer to Ortega’s record, the Cruz Azul defender requires great consistency, but above all the ability to be able to respond to the physical demands of the competition after 16 years of hard graft in the Liga MX.
Ortega made his debut in 1974 and from that moment on he was a fundamental piece in the conquest of six league titles for América - starting with the one the team won in 1975-76 under Raúl Cárdenas and up to the great final against the Black Lions of the UdeG which delivered the seventh title in the Águilas’ history.
After that, he played an important part in the championships of the 1983-84 seasons - beating Chivas in 1984-85 and three subsequent titles in 1985, 1988 and 1989.
For his part, during his 16-year career Julio César Domínguez has only managed to win one league title - the Clausura 2021 which further underlines Ortega’s achievements with América.
We’ll see if Domínguez closes that gap between him and Ortega but as things stand, he is currently the player with the most appearances in the Liga MX with the same club.
Of course there are players who have more Liga MX appearances, such as Oscar ‘Conejo’ Pérez and Oswaldo Sánchez who have played 741 and 725 games respectively - but with different teams. That only highlights the efforts of Ortega and Domínguez, for what they have achieved - feats which have made them icons at their respective clubs.