Forgotten by El Tri? América Goalkeeper Malagón Starts Over

For three consecutive Liga MX matches — against Cruz Azul, Chivas and Necaxa — Luis Ángel Malagón has been named in América's matchday squad without playing a minute. On the training ground, the stopwatch shows a goalkeeper still working through positional movements rather than explosive lateral push-offs. The Kazan ledger taught me that set pieces breathe once you open the books; today's ledger is about post-injury reintegration. Malagón tore his Achilles tendon against Philadelphia Union in the Concachampions in March 2026. Six months later, he has returned through the U-21 side, but coach Guillermo Almada is deliberately keeping him on the bench. For a goalkeeper, an Achilles rupture attacks three pillars: diving power, lateral explosiveness and long kicking range. The phased protocol is medical, not hesitation. Almada's handling is psychological as well as physical. Three straight bench appearances normalize the matchday environment before competitive exposure. Meanwhile, Raúl 'Tala' Rangel has moved ahead in the national-team goalkeeping race. Rafa Márquez's first call-up did not include Malagón, and the report frames the snub as consequence, not punishment. A private conversation signals an open door. The real risk is time and a compounding sporting disadvantage. Media framing of 'forgotten' overstates the report's own body: the path to El Tri is delayed, not closed. If Malagón wins club minutes, the same narrative can invert to redemption. Watch for three signals: Almada's lineup decisions, Márquez's next list, and Rangel's form. The stopwatch still says the account is open.