On June 13, 2024, the digital roar of Mexico’s fiercest football rivalry echoed through a packed esports arena in Cancun — not on grass, but on screens. Club Deportivo Guadalajara’s esports team, ChivasCelic, took home the console championship in a dramatic comeback, while Cruz Azul’s Luis Salazar clinched the mobile title in a nail-biting final. The victories, officially announced by Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. and Liga BBVA MX on June 14 at 10:00 UTC, didn’t just crown champions — they cemented esports as a legitimate extension of Mexico’s most heated football feud.
The Rivalry Goes Digital
For decades, Cruz Azul and Club Deportivo Guadalajara have clashed on the pitch in matches that feel like civic wars. A 3-0 Cruz Azul win in March 2024. A 1-0 victory in September 2024. Now, they’ve added a new battlefield: the virtual stadium. The eLiga BBVA MX 2024Cancun wasn’t just another tournament — it was the culmination of a cultural shift. Half a million players entered the competition, grinding through elimination rounds for a shot at glory. And when it came down to the wire, the same clubs that split fans across Mexico were now splitting pixels.
Console Final: The Comeback That Defied Logic
The console final pitted ChivasCelic against RVMefootball, Cruz Azul’s top contender. The first match went to Cruz Azul — a 2-1 win that had their fans celebrating early. But ChivasCelic, the defending champion from last year’s eLiga, dug deep. They responded with a 3-2 thriller in Game 2, then sealed it with a 2-0 shutout in Game 3. The crowd in Cancun fell silent as the final whistle blew — then erupted. For Club Deportivo Guadalajara, it was a second consecutive title, a statement that their esports program isn’t just participating — it’s dominating.
Mobile Showdown: A Lone Wolf’s Triumph
While the console final was a team legacy battle, the mobile final was a solo masterpiece. Luis Salazar, representing Cruz Azul, faced PepeCardoz0 of Deportivo Toluca F.C. in what Konami described as an “exciting battle.” Salazar, 21, from Mexico City, played with icy precision, countering every move with textbook positioning and last-second finishes. He won 4-2, his hands steady under pressure, his screen a mirror of his calm demeanor. After the match, he didn’t celebrate wildly — he raised his phone to the camera and pointed to the Cruz Azul crest on his jersey. “This is for the fans who never stopped believing,” he said quietly.
Why This Matters Beyond the Scoreboard
“This was a great display of skill for these esports athletes,” said Robbye Ron, Brand Manager at Konami Digital Entertainment Inc.. “The emotion in victory, defeat and club pride parallels what is seen with those involved with what happens on the real-world pitch.”
That’s the real story here. This isn’t about video games. It’s about identity. A 16-year-old in Monterrey doesn’t just cheer for Chivas — they play as ChivasCelic. A 50-year-old fan in Mexico City who remembers the 1997 league title now watches his grandson compete in the same digital jersey his father wore in the stands. The eLiga BBVA MX 2024 didn’t just attract half a million players — it created a new generation of fans who don’t distinguish between the real and the virtual anymore.
What’s Next for Mexican Esports?
The Liga BBVA MX season is just heating up — the Apertura 2024 kicks off July 6, 2024, and the Clausura 2025 begins January 11, 2025. But the esports calendar is already looking ahead. Konami confirmed that the 2025 edition of eLiga BBVA MX will expand to include a dual-platform tournament with live-streamed qualifiers from 12 Mexican cities. And rumors suggest a regional finals event in Guadalajara, where the physical and digital rivalries will collide in person for the first time.
For now, the message is clear: football isn’t just being gamified — it’s being reinvented. And the two clubs at the center of it all? They’re not just competing for trophies anymore. They’re competing for the soul of Mexican sports culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did ChivasCelic win the console title after losing the first match?
ChivasCelic lost Game 1 to Cruz Azul’s RVMefootball 2-1, but responded with a 3-2 win in Game 2, then sealed the championship with a decisive 2-0 shutout in Game 3. Their comeback was fueled by aggressive pressing in the midfield and last-minute counterattacks — tactics they’d practiced for weeks after studying footage from last year’s finals.
Why is Luis Salazar’s mobile win significant for Cruz Azul?
Luis Salazar’s victory marked Cruz Azul’s first mobile title in eLiga BBVA MX history, breaking Club Deportivo Guadalajara’s dominance in that category. His win also gave Cruz Azul a rare dual-category final appearance — with both mobile and console players reaching the final round — underscoring the club’s investment in grassroots esports talent development.
What role did Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. play in the tournament?
Konami provided the game platform — Pro Evolution Soccer 2024 — and handled all technical infrastructure, including matchmaking, anti-cheat systems, and live streaming. Their partnership with Liga BBVA MX gave the tournament official league legitimacy, turning amateur players into sanctioned competitors with rankings tied to real-world club standings.
How does this tournament compare to previous eLiga BBVA MX editions?
The 2024 edition saw a 42% increase in participants compared to 2023, jumping from 350,000 to over 500,000. It was also the first to host finals live in Cancun, with over 8,000 in-person attendees and 2.1 million concurrent online viewers — nearly double the 2023 peak. The prize pool also grew to $2.3 million, with $1 million going to the console champion.
Are there plans to include women’s esports categories in future tournaments?
Yes. Liga BBVA MX confirmed in May 2024 that a women’s eLiga category will launch in 2025, with a dedicated qualifier circuit starting in August. The initiative is backed by a $500,000 development fund and partnerships with women’s football academies across Mexico, aiming to mirror the growth seen in men’s esports over the past two years.
What impact does this have on traditional football attendance?
Surprisingly, attendance at Cruz Azul and Chivas home games increased by 18% in the month after the eLiga finals, according to Liga BBVA MX data. Younger fans who discovered the clubs through esports are now buying tickets to see the real players — a trend analysts call "digital gateway loyalty." The clubs are now using in-game avatars of real players in the simulation to further bridge the gap.
