Why isn’t Raúl Zúñiga playing for Club América against Pumas?
As América gears up for the Clausura 2026 postseason, Las Águilas have lost the services of Colombian forward Zúñiga.
Just days before the start of the Liga MX’s Clausura 2026 playoffs, injuries continue to show no mercy to Club América. On Thursday, the club announced that Raúl Zúñiga will be sidelined after picking up an injury during that morning’s training session.
What injury does Zúñiga have?
According to the medical report, the striker suffered a fracture to his left clavicle. Zúñiga underwent successful surgery and will be unavailable for Sunday’s matchup against Pumas - a game América will also play without Guillermo Martínez, who was a late call‑up to the national team.
PARTE MÉDICO
— Club América (@ClubAmerica) May 1, 2026
El Club América informa que derivado de un choque accidental en el entrenamiento, Raúl Zúñiga sufrió fractura de clavícula izquierda, la cual requirió tratamiento quirúrgico, mismo que se realizó sin complicaciones.
El tiempo de recuperación de nuestro jugador… pic.twitter.com/wHroiQDdem
Zúñiga a target for fan discontent
Beyond the team’s collective struggles in Coapa, Zúñiga has been one of the most heavily criticized players for his lack of production. Since arriving at the club, the Colombian has managed just five goals in roughly 1,500 minutes - numbers that pale in comparison to his output with former club Tijuana, where he finished as the Clausura 2025 Golden Boot winner after scoring 20 goals in 35 matches.
At América, Zúñiga’s low point came against Toluca, when he missed a sitter in front of an open net. The play quickly went viral on social media and reignited the debate over the forward’s true quality.
América now finds itself at a pivotal moment in the season. After scraping into the playoffs by the slimmest of margins, André Jardine’s squad are preparing to host Pumas in the first leg of the Clausura 2026 quarterfinals. The tie could well define the Brazilian manager’s future, as he too has been under intense scrutiny following a disastrous tournament for the club. Still, knocking out Pumas - who also finished as the best team of the regular season - could go a long way toward redeeming past failures.
Club América vs Pumas: kickoff times, how to watch
In the first leg of the Clausura 2026 quarterfinals, América and Pumas meet at Estadio Banorte, Mexico City, on Sunday, May 3. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. Viewers in the U.S. on TUDN USA, Univisión and ViX.
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