Paulinho, Toluca’s Portuguese striker, returns to the field after a months-long injury, according to head coach Antonio Mohamed. On Tuesday, August 26, in a press conference, Mohamed confirmed that the player has already left the training ground and that the expectation is he will be available within a 10-day window.
When does Paulinho return to the pitch?
The 4th of September, the day of Matchday 7 of the Apertura 2026, Toluca will face Puebla at Estadio Cuauhtémoc. Mohamed said, "Ya salió a campo, así que esperemos que no haya ningún contratiempo y lo podamos tener en un lapso de 10 días". If the squad remains injury-free, Paulinho could play in that match.
What impact will his absence have on the next games?
Paulinho’s absence directly affects Toluca’s attack, which has also lost Luis García, Santi Simón, Érick Gutiérrez, Marcel Ruiz and Gacelo López. Mohamed added, "Muchas lesiones fueron accidentales, por juegos, situaciones, del poco descanso que tuvimos. Parece que el equipo que gana es el que menos descanso tiene". The team must compensate for the loss of a striker who has scored 8 goals this season.
How does the injury affect the squad and the schedule?
Toluca is preparing for the match against Austin FC in the Leagues Cup, but Paulinho’s injury leaves the club without its main goal-scoring option. The schedule is very tight: the 2nd of September will see the Leagues Cup semifinal and the 4th of September the match against Puebla. If the club advances to the semifinal, Paulinho will not be available for the Puebla game.
What does Toluca’s current table position mean?
In the Liga MX standings, Toluca sits third with 10 points after 5 matches: 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss. The last result was a 2-0 defeat to CF Pachuca on May 10. Recent form shows 1 win and 4 losses in the last 5 matches, with a goal difference of +4 (8 scored, 4 conceded). The club is 3 points behind the leaders, Club América, and remains a favorite in any matchup.
The next fixture for Toluca is a home game against Atlas on September 13, second in the table. To follow the squad’s evolution, you can check our fixtures. If you want to see the full player list, visit our squad. For detailed statistics, visit our stats.
Paulinho’s return will be a turning point for Toluca, which needs to strengthen its attack to compete with the leaders and maintain its table position. Managing injuries and the demanding schedule will be key factors in the upcoming phase of the season.
