Club América winless streak in Mexican football rivalries

Club América has been experiencing a prolonged winless streak in major Liga MX rivalries, failing to secure a victory against Chivas, Cruz Azul, and Pumas for over a year. This period of struggle has persisted through two different coaching tenures, moving from André Jardine to Guillermo Almada.

In a recent Clásico Nacional match during the Apertura 2026 season, América played to a 2-2 draw against Chivas. Although Chivas held an initial 2-0 lead through goals from Bryan González and Ricardo Marín, América avoided defeat via two goals from substitute Miguel Borja, including a notable bicycle kick in the 71st minute. This result extended América’s winless streak against Chivas to four matches and prevented the club from reaching its 100th victory in the rivalry. Borja’s performance equaled a historical record held by Luis Gabriel Rey as the second Colombian to score twice in an official Clásico Nacional.

Borja’s performance sparked significant debate. Commentator Christian Martinoli stated the strike “will be remembered for centuries.” However, former Mexican star Hugo Sánchez expressed frustration on ESPN, claiming that commentators failed to compare the goal to his own legendary style, noting they often reference players like Maradona or Cristiano Ronaldo without acknowledging his legacy.

The match also drew controversy regarding Borja, who faced scrutiny for allegedly covering his mouth while speaking to Chivas goalkeeper Raúl Rangel, an action prohibited under the ‘Prestianni Law’ intended to prevent racism and xenophobia. However, no evidence of discriminatory language was found, and no disciplinary action was taken by the referee or VAR. Additionally, América’s new signing Carlos Álvarez made his debut, narrowly missing a late opportunity to secure a win. Following the draw, Chivas sits in second place with 18 points, while América holds third place with 17 points, trailing leader Toluca.