Cruz Azul controversially storms into second place
La Máquina is at the centre of controversy for drawing level with Chivas as the second-most-successful team in Mexico.
Cruz Azul’s ‘Máquina Celeste’ defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps with total authority in the Grand Final of the Concacaf Champions Cup, claiming their seventh trophy in the competition—tying Club América as the team with the most trophies in the tournament’s history.
With this latest triumph, Cruz Azul also reached 26 total trophies, equaling Chivas Rayadas de Guadalajara as the second-most decorated team in Mexican football history. However, there’s ongoing debate about whether that 26th trophy should be officially recognized.
😍🏆💙 pic.twitter.com/cJM5jj5EVe
— CRUZ AZUL (@CruzAzul) June 2, 2025
Why don’t Cruz Azul’s 26 trophies all count?
The controversy stems from the validity of some trophies, rather than just the total number. While Cruz Azul technically claims 26 championships, critics argue that one of them—the Leagues Cup—should not be considered an official trophy by international standards.
Here’s a comparison of the major honours for both Chivas and Cruz Azul:
Chivas trophies - 26
- First Division Liga MX: 12
- Copa MX: 4
- Champion of Champions: 7
- Supercopa MX: 1
- Concacaf Champions Cup: 2
Cruz Azul trophies - 25
- First Division Liga MX: 9
- Copa MX: 4
- Champion of Champions: 3
- League Super Cup: 1
- Supercopa MX: 1
- Concacaf Champions Cup: 7
The Leagues Cup, won by Cruz Azul in 2019, is included in their 26-trophy count. However, the issue is that FIFA does not officially recognize the Leagues Cup, similar to the Challenger Cup held by Chivas. Despite this, Liga MX does consider the Leagues Cup an official competition since it involves both Mexican and MLS clubs.
The teams with the most official trophies in Mexico
- Club América: 41
- Guadalajara Sports Club: 26
- Cruz Azul: 25
- Deportivo Toluca: 20
- Club León: 17
- Tigres UANL: 16
- Pumas UNAM: 14
- Club Monterrey: 14
- Pachuca Club: 13
- Necaxa: 12
- Atlas: 12
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