The question of who won America or Cruz Azul depends entirely on when you ask, but if we’re talking about the most recent high-stakes collision, the answer carries a massive sting for the blue side of Mexico City. Club América currently holds the ultimate bragging rights. They secured the Clausura 2024 title against Cruz Azul in a final that felt like a fever dream for some and a nightmare for others.
Football is cruel.
It’s especially cruel if you’re a Cementero. While America fans celebrate their "Bicampeonato" (back-to-back titles), Cruz Azul supporters are left dissecting a controversial penalty and a missed opportunity to break the curse of the Clásico Joven.
The Recent Reality: Why America Just Won’t Quit
In the most recent Liga MX final held in May 2024, Club América edged out Cruz Azul with a 2-1 aggregate score. The first leg at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes ended in a 1-1 draw, setting the stage for a dramatic second leg at the iconic Estadio Azteca.
It wasn't a pretty game. It was a grind.
The deciding moment came in the 78th minute of the second leg. Henry Martín stepped up to the penalty spot after a foul on Israel Reyes that sent social media into an absolute meltdown. Martín didn't blink. He hammered it home. That single goal was enough to secure America’s 15th league title, making them the most successful club in the history of Mexican soccer.
Kinda wild, right? Cruz Azul played arguably better football for long stretches of that series. They had the possession. They had the tactical discipline under coach Martín Anselmi. But America has this weird, almost supernatural ability to win when they aren't at their best. It’s what their fans call "mística." Their haters call it luck—or worse.
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Breaking Down the All-Time Record
If you look at the historical data, the answer to who won America or Cruz Azul more often leans heavily toward the Yellow and Blue. This isn't just a recent trend; it's a decades-long pattern of dominance in the Clásico Joven.
Since their first meeting in the 1960s, America has generally maintained a higher win percentage in head-to-head matchups. We’re talking over 190 official games across Liga MX, Copa MX, and international tournaments. America has won roughly 70 of those, while Cruz Azul trails with about 58 wins, leaving the rest as draws.
Stats don't tell the whole story, though.
The real pain for Cruz Azul isn't the total number of losses. It’s the finals. They have met in the league final four times. America won in 1988-89, the legendary 2013 comeback, the 2018 final, and now the 2024 edition. Cruz Azul's only final victory over America came way back in the 1971-72 season.
That is a long time to wait for revenge.
The 2013 Nightmare: A Scar That Never Heals
You can’t talk about who won America or Cruz Azul without mentioning May 26, 2013. It is arguably the most famous game in the history of the league. Cruz Azul was up 2-0 on aggregate with just minutes left. It was raining. It was miserable.
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Then, everything broke.
Aquivaldo Mosquera scored in the 89th minute. Then, in the 93rd minute, America’s goalkeeper, Moisés Muñoz, went up for a corner and headed the ball. It deflected off a defender and went in. The Azteca exploded. America went on to win on penalties. That game birthed the term "Cruzazulear," a verb used in Mexico to describe failing spectacularly right at the finish line.
Tactical Shifts: How the Tide Could Turn
While America won the most recent trophy, honestly, the tactical gap is closing. Martín Anselmi has transformed Cruz Azul into a high-pressing, modern machine. They don't just sit back anymore. In the 2024 regular season, they actually looked more cohesive than André Jardine’s America side.
America relies on individual brilliance. Players like Julián Quiñones (before his move to Saudi Arabia), Diego Valdés, and Álvaro Fidalgo can change a game in three seconds. Cruz Azul relies on a system.
It’s the classic battle of stars vs. structure.
Key Players in the Current Era
- Henry Martín (America): The captain. He’s become a clinical finisher and the psychological heartbeat of the team.
- Kevin Mier (Cruz Azul): The Colombian keeper has saved Cruz Azul's skin more times than fans can count. He’s the reason they stayed in the 2024 final as long as they did.
- Diego Valdés (America): When he’s healthy, he is the best playmaker in North America. Period.
- Giorgos Giakoumakis (Cruz Azul): The Greek striker was brought in to provide the finishing touch that was missing in the last final.
What’s Next for This Rivalry?
Expect the tension to get worse. With America playing in various venues while the Azteca undergoes renovations for the 2026 World Cup, the "home field advantage" is a bit wonky right now. Cruz Azul has moved back to the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes, a smaller, louder stadium that creates a literal pressure cooker for visiting teams.
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If you are looking for the next time these two face off, keep an eye on the schedule for the Apertura and Clausura "Liguilla" (playoffs). They almost always meet when the stakes are highest.
The debate over who won America or Cruz Azul will continue to dominate sports talk shows in Mexico for the next century. While the trophies sit in Coapa (America's headquarters), the hunger in La Noria (Cruz Azul's camp) is at an all-time high.
Actionable Insights for Following the Rivalry
To stay ahead of the curve on this rivalry, stop just looking at the final score and start tracking these three specific metrics:
- Expected Goals (xG) in Head-to-Head Matchups: In the last three meetings, Cruz Azul actually had a higher xG, suggesting their "losses" are more about finishing quality than being outplayed.
- Disciplinary Record: These games are notorious for red cards. A team’s ability to keep 11 men on the pitch usually determines the winner of the Clásico Joven more than tactical formations.
- The "Post-Azteca" Factor: Monitor how America performs in neutral venues. Their win rate has historically dipped when they aren't playing in the intimidating atmosphere of a packed Estadio Azteca.
Check the official Liga MX app or sites like Sofascore for real-time tactical maps during the next game to see if Anselmi’s "overload" tactics finally break through Jardine’s defensive block.