Introduction
While no amount of money guarantees a football team’s championship, strong investment plays a crucial role in approaching success. In Mexico’s Liga MX, Toluca exemplifies this situation. Despite 15 years without a title, they reached five of the last six Liguillas among the top 10 most valuable squads and won the recent Clausura 2025 title with three players in the top 10 most expensive: Alexis Vega, Paulinho, and Marcel Ruiz.
Key Investors in Liga MX
Humberto Valdés Neveu, a former Cruz Azul player and Bravos de Juárez sporting director, comments to El Economista: “We need to talk about the same teams making significant investments: Cruz Azul, America, Tigres, and Monterrey. Quality costs, it’s that simple. That’s why we see such large differences because while you have a budget to pursue a player worth $500,000, for example, your opponent might be going after a player worth $5 million.”
Materializing Investment in Liga MX
Toluca, America, Tigres, and Cruz Azul were semifinalists in the Clausura 2025. In the last five tournaments, only Monterrey, Chivas, Pumas, and Atlético de San Luis joined them in the top 10 team values on Transfermarkt, except for Pumas and San Luis, who are outside the top 6.
Investment is crucial for enhancing a team’s decisions, just like in any business. With capital, the metrics of the sports intelligence department come to life, especially when acquiring players for specific needs.
All but Marcel Ruiz of Toluca’s champion squad joined in 2023 or later, including head coach Antonio Mohamed. The three most expensive signings in the club’s history occurred in the last two seasons: Helinho ($15.2 million), Paulinho ($8.7 million), and Federico Pereira ($7.1 million) according to Transfermarkt valuations.
Sports Intelligence vs. Investment
The specialist explains, “Sports intelligence is extensive and requires understanding as it involves different areas within a football team or any professional discipline, even individual sports. Sports intelligence primarily refers to using technology for the team’s benefit in terms of performance, analysis, strategy, and scouting—essentially, acquiring players.”
However, the specialist notes that sports intelligence alone cannot guarantee titles or consistent performance in knockout stages. Investment and human factors are equally important.
Human Factor in Liga MX Success
Cruz Azul and Toluca invested the most in player transfers during the 2024-25 season (summer and winter transfer windows) with over $40 million each. They also accumulated the most points in that year’s football season.
In contrast, Puebla and Mazatlán invested less than $2 million, according to Transfermarkt figures, finishing among the three worst in Clausura 2025 and even paying penalties for the percentage table.
The Human Element
America, Monterrey, Tigres, and Chivas followed Cruz Azul and Toluca in player transfer investments, yet Guadalajara failed to advance to the Play-In. This highlights that human factors are essential for success.
“Remember, humans are the primary actors. Technology provides tools to improve performance, but external factors like luck, error, and timing also play a role. Technology or sports intelligence certainly helps with performance, for example, in physical preparation.”
Valdés emphasizes that all Liga MX teams have a sports intelligence department, but their usage varies according to each team’s capabilities.
“Understanding sports intelligence differs among teams. Some focus on scouting worldwide for players, while others prioritize analysis or tactics. However, some teams undoubtedly have greater economic capacity and potential, making them very comprehensive.”
Sports intelligence is estimated to consume 10-20% of a Liga MX team’s annual budget, with software packages costing up to $20,000 for maintenance, consultation, and application. A club’s annual investment range is between 350 and 1,000 million pesos, according to a 2024 Mediotiempo investigation.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the significance of investment in Liga MX success? Strong investment is crucial for approaching success, as it allows teams to acquire high-quality players and enhance their overall performance.
- Which teams are key investors in Liga MX? Cruz Azul, America, Tigres, and Monterrey are the primary investors in Liga MX.
- How does sports intelligence contribute to a team’s success? Sports intelligence, which includes technology and data analysis, supports teams in decision-making processes but is not a standalone guarantee for titles.
- What role do human factors play in Liga MX success? Human factors, such as team cohesion, leadership, and individual player abilities, are essential for success alongside technology and investment.
