In 2021, Cruz Azul won the Liga MX championship for the first time since 1997, beating Santos 2-1, and erasing years of heartache. They were the lovable losers. They were cursed. "Cruzazulear" became slang for "to choke", to grab defeat from the jaws of victory. Since 1997, La Maquina have lost in six league finals, but have won all the other domestic cups and a CONCACAF Champions League title.