Cruz Azul once again demonstrated that it is enjoying one of the best periods in its recent history by winning the Liga MX Campeón de Campeones after defeating Toluca 3-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Thanks to a standout performance by Argentine José Paradela, who scored twice, and a goal by Carlos Rodríguez, La Máquina lifted another trophy and secured its spot in the upcoming Campeones Cup, where it will face Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
The match brought together two of the strongest teams in Mexican soccer in a stadium packed with Celeste fans who had traveled to support their team on U.S. soil. From the start, Toluca tried to dictate the pace with more possession and several dangerous attacks, but they were met with a well-organized defense and an alert Kevin Mier in goal.
Cruz Azul is the 2026 Champion of Champions
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS. 💙 pic.twitter.com/QWePBEXnhu
— CRUZ AZUL (@CruzAzul) July 26, 2026
The Red Devils created the first scoring chances of the game, particularly through Alexis Vega, who tested the Colombian goalkeeper with a couple of shots from midrange.
However, it was Cruz Azul that struck first.
In the 31st minute, José Paradela popped up inside the box to finish with precision off an assist from Carlos Rodríguez, putting Joel Huiqui’s team ahead.
The goal sparked celebrations among the Cementeros fans, who watched as their team controlled the game with discipline and decisiveness.
Just when it looked like Cruz Azul would go into halftime with the lead, Toluca tied the game in stoppage time of the first half.
Thanks to a masterful free kick by Alexis Vega, who beat Kevin Mier, hope returned to the Scarlet team just before the final whistle.
The Red Devils never stopped fighting
AWESOME GOAL BY CRUZ AZUL! What an incredible play they pulled off to set up Charly’s goal 😎🔥#CampeonDeCampeones pic.twitter.com/WlFIL1TtJk
— TUDN MEX (@TUDNMEX) July 26, 2026
The Celeste’s response came quickly after halftime.
Just in the 55th minute, Carlos Rodríguez made his presence felt again, this time as a goal scorer, to restore Cruz Azul’s lead following a team play that broke down the Toluca defense.
Six minutes later, the decisive blow came.
José Paradela scored his second goal of the game by capitalizing on a set piece and putting the score at 3-1, which effectively sealed the victory.
Although Toluca maintained the initiative for several stretches of the second half and sought to pull one back through crosses and set pieces, it never managed to break through La Máquina’s defensive organization, which controlled the match intelligently until the final whistle.
The victory marks a new chapter in Cruz Azul’s successful run, as the team continues to add titles to its collection and establish itself as one of the strongest teams in Mexican soccer.
In addition to the trophy, the sky-blue team earned the right to compete in the Campeones Cup, a tournament that pits the Liga MX champion against the MLS champion.
The match is scheduled for September 16, when Cruz Azul will face Inter Miami, the team led by Lionel Messi.
It’s a matchup that promises to capture the attention of millions of fans in the United States, Mexico, and the rest of the continent.
Filed under: Cruz Azul, 2026 Campeón Campeones Champion
