Deportivo Toluca is experiencing a period of high activity with news about a potential star departure, a big league win, and individual awards. According to AS México, Brazilian forward Helinho is close to leaving the club to sign for CSKA Moscow in Russia. This news comes in a positive context for the team, which sits second in the table with 13 points after its 4-0 victory over FC Juárez on August 31.
How much would CSKA Moscow pay for Helinho?
According to journalist Paco Vela, cited by AS México, negotiations to transfer Helinho to the Russian club are very advanced. The base agreement would be around 10 million dollars, a figure that could rise to 12 million if certain objectives are met. The right winger arrived at the Red Devils for the Apertura 2024 from Brazil's Red Bull Bragantino for a fee close to 16 million, making him the most expensive signing in the Mexiquense club's history.
During his time at Toluca, Helinho was a key part of a successful cycle. The Brazilian won two Liga MX titles, a Campeón de Campeones, and the long-awaited Concacaf Champions Cup. He scored decisive goals, like the one that started the comeback in the Apertura 2025 final against Tigres, a match that ended with the 'Choriceros' winning back-to-back titles on penalties.
How did Toluca's win over Juárez unfold?
Toluca demonstrated its offensive power by crushing FC Juárez 4-0 in Matchday 6 of the Apertura 2026, according to coverage by Récord MX. The scarlet squad dominated the match from start to finish at the Estadio Nemesio Diez. Helinho opened the scoring in the 10th minute, Jesús Murillo extended the lead in the 34th, Oswaldo Virgen scored the third in the 73rd minute, and Federico Viñas sealed the rout in the 79th with a notable individual play.
With this result, Antonio Mohamed's team solidified its hold on second place in the overall standings, just three points behind leaders Club América. The team has scored 12 goals and conceded only 4 in the first six matchdays, showing a solid balance. Its next test will be a visit to Puebla, who are in eighth place, on September 5, according to our fixtures.
Which Toluca players received the Golden Ball?
Prior to the match against Juárez, the club experienced a special moment with the presentation of the Liga MX Golden Balls. Récord MX reported that coach Antonio Mohamed and players Nicolás Castro and Marcel Ruiz were the awardees in a ceremony held on the pitch at the Nemesio Diez. This individual recognition added to the collective joy of the subsequent rout.
The team has shown a positive streak in its recent commitments, with four wins and a draw in its last five matches across all competitions. This good form was also reflected in the Leagues Cup, where, according to MARCA, Toluca beat Austin FC 2-0 on August 26 with goals from Helinho and advanced to the semifinals of the international tournament. Fans can follow the squad's detailed performance on our stats page.
What is Toluca's next challenge?
With Helinho's potential exit pending, the team's immediate focus is on maintaining its pace in Liga MX. The squad, which you can view on squad, will need to adapt to changes while trying to cut the three-point gap to América at the top. The clash against Puebla will be an opportunity to consolidate its position in the upper zone of the standings before the next international break.
The match at the Estadio Cuauhtémoc is scheduled for Thursday, September 5.
