On the same day Real Madrid secured their 15th UEFA Champions League title, Pachuca triumphed over Columbus Crew to win the CONCACAF Champions League. This victory marks the 20th time in 24 years that a Mexican team has claimed the Champions League trophy.
Pachuca secured a comfortable 3-0 victory at Estadio Hidalgo, reinforcing Mexico's regional dominance. Winning the title for the first time since 2017, highlighting the quality disparity between Mexican clubs and their counterparts from Central and North America.
The home side had the perfect start when Salomón Rondón opened the scoring after 12 minutes. Set up by Nelson Deossa, the Venezuelan displayed his skill by calmly lobbing the onrushing goalkeeper from the edge of the box.
Pachuca continued in pursuit of a second goal, but Oussama Idrissi was only denied 3 minutes later by VAR.
Los Tuzos doubled their lead on the half-hour mark after a rocket from Miguel Rodriguez. Columbus were outnumbered by a fast Pachuca attack, who were chasing a second goal, Erick Sánchez played the ball into Rodriguez who fired his effort into the roof of the net with a left-footed finesse.
Pachuca's rapid-fire start left Columbus scrambling to find their footing in the match. Ultimately, Rondón secured the victory in the 66th minute with a swift turn and shot that caught Patrick Schulte off guard, sealing the win for Pachuca.
The result means that Pachuca lifted their sixth Champions League title, the second best in the competition's history, only beaten by the seven of Club América. It also means that the 2021 Seatle Sounders title is the only non-Mexican success since 2005.
Following in the footsteps of León, Tigres, Chivas and Monterrey in recent years, Pachuca will represent CONCACAF in the next FIFA World Club Cup, which will take place in the summer of 2025.