Encapsulating Club América’s Most Successful Year Ever

ARTICLE

Ivan Pineda

12/31/2024

It's almost impossible to fathom the success Club América has had in 2024. This year will certainly go down in history as the club's most successful one. For Americanistas all across the globe, this year will be unforgettable as they've seen their team crowned champions a record five times. This achievement will undoubtedly be the cornerstone of cementing Club América's legacy and greatness above all other teams in Mexico. While the year may not have been perfect, a look back at this team's achievements across all competitions this year suggests they came as close to perfection as possible.

Encapsulating Club América’s Most Successful Year Ever

The Bicampeón Conquest

The year began with high ambitions of going back-to-back in the league. After securing the much-sought-after 14th league title and finally winning it back in December of 2023, the team had one goal in mind: to win the league again. The bar was set and ultimately achieved, winning the 15th league title in style. The team finished at the top of the league and demonstrated resilience throughout their Liguilla campaign.

Not only did they crown themselves champions of the 2024 Clausura season, but in doing so, they automatically won the Campeón de Campeones trophy. This feat had only been achieved three times in Liga MX's short format history. Six months into the year, and the team had achieved their bicampeón ambition while adding a second trophy to their collection.

Glorified Cups Conquered

No successful year is complete without a couple of cup victories, and for América, this was no exception. The first cup came in a makeshift "Community Shield" ahead of the 2024 Apertura season. Due to their automatic win of the Campeón de Campeones trophy after the Bicampeonato, the league decided to have América play the Super Copa MX against Tigres in Carson, CA. The team ultimately won, celebrating under the Southern California sun, marking their third trophy of the year.

The second cup victory came late in September in the Campeones Cup match against Columbus Crew, pitting the current MLS champions against the Campeón de Campeón from Liga MX. This match was the ultimate test for Las Águilas, who desperately needed to showcase they could best one of the better teams in the CONCACAF region. Despite injuries handicapping the team, André Jardine's side controlled stretches of the match. In the end, they won on penalties, claiming their fourth trophy of 2024.

Historic Achievement: Tricampeonato

The cherry on top came fittingly at the end of the year. Club América etched their name into history once again, proclaiming themselves as the only team to achieve a Tricampeonato in Liga MX's short format history. "Historic" doesn't even begin to describe this achievement.

Looking back, this achievement is even more impressive considering the mountain of adversity this team had to overcome. A dip in form, an injury crisis, and the fact they had to play the entire season without home-field advantage make the tricampeonato seem like something straight out of Hollywood. The bar was set higher than ever before at the start of the season, and there were moments when such an accomplishment felt out of reach, like a wild fairytale. But even after having to reach the playoffs in 8th place and facing off against the two toughest teams in the league, América demonstrated that their DNA is far superior to anyone else's. When all the chips seemed stacked against them, Las Águilas rose above all to crown themselves champions for the 16th time in history, claiming their three-peat success and adding a fifth total trophy this year.

The One That Got Away

It would seem that in 2024, Club América won practically everything, and it sounds far-fetched to say they missed the mark in claiming yet another trophy. Yet, the reality is that despite this successful year, they fell short of one major trophy: the CONCACAF Champions Cup. It would be remiss not to mention the Leagues Cup failure, but that tournament held little weight compared to what the team would gain from the Champions Cup. Although they were seen as favorites, the club had only one international competition in their sights.

The CONCACAF Champions Cup was the holy grail for Club América as they looked to impose dominance outside of the Mexican region. Winning it was a priority due to the lack of recent success, and a ticket to the new Club World Cup was also on the line—a competition featuring the best teams around the world. América came so close to clinching success but ultimately failed in the semifinals against eventual winners Pachuca. This defeat will surely echo even louder next summer as the team will have to swallow their pride, unable to feature in such a coveted event, marking the one blemish in their season.

A Definitive Roundup

Impressive, historic, and memorable are the three words that come closest to describing the successful year Club América had. This year will be painted in gold and remembered as legendary. Yet, in an odd, convoluted way, it feels like it's still not enough for Club América. The fans will undoubtedly ask for more, and the stature of this club will demand continued success. That is the standard this club has always upheld, and the legacy of the biggest and greatest team in Mexico will always demand nothing less. A look back at 2024 showcases that this team will be forever engraved in the minds and hearts of so many Americanistas who witnessed something very few have.