A nearly 20 years after the historic conquest of Pachuca in the 2006 Copa Sudamericana, Christian Giménez and Humberto Suazo recalled that final when the Tuzos defeated Colo Colo to become the only Mexican team to claim a CONMEBOL title. Can you picture that night?
The reunion happened at the 2026 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, where both veterans shared the stage as part of the generation receiving honors. Beyond the event, they each played starring roles in the series that crowned the Hidalgo side.
For the Chaco, the championship still holds a special meaning and he believes its full impact on Mexican football isn’t yet fully grasped, since no other club from the country has repeated the feat.
I don’t know if history has given it enough weight over time, but I do,” the naturalized Mexican‑born Argentine said of one of his biggest career triumphs.
Giménez also recalled the support Pachuca enjoyed during that run, noting that much of the nation rallied behind the team on its road to glory. At 24 years since arriving in Mexico, he feels that unity was a once‑in‑a‑lifetime moment. In my view, such cohesion is unlikely to return.
It was a moment I still remember, when all of Mexico backed Pachuca. Looking back now, after 24 years living here, it was truly unique,” he added.
Even during his speech, the Chaco sparked humor by recalling facing Suazo in the final. Between laughs he asked if the Chilean had scored Colo Colo’s goals, to which the striker replied he found the net in both the first‑leg and the second‑leg.
But anyway, time has moved on and we no longer compete. We remain the only side to pull off that great feat,” Giménez concluded, reminding everyone of a championship that still stands as an exception in Mexican clubs’ South American history.
On the other side, Humberto Suazo admitted that losing the final was one of the toughest experiences of his career. The forward remembered that Colo Colo fielded a squad of high‑quality players and that the dream of winning the tournament burned brightly.
It really was a feat, as we say. We tied here in Pachuca, then went up 1‑0 away. Damián came on and turned the game in the second half, yet it was a painful moment for football,” he recounted the series finale.
The Chilean also cited stars such as Alexis Sánchez, Arturo Vidal, Matías Fernández and Jorge Valdivia, who comprised that Colo Colo. Yet, despite the sporting blow, he saw a silver lining: his performance caught Monterrey’s eye, leading to a significant chapter in Mexican football.