Hugo Ayala

Atlas

Hugo Ayala started his professional career with Atlas. He made his official debut in 2006 as a starter against C.D. Guadalajara. Although Atlas lost 3–1 he became an often used substitute ending the season. In the next season he starting showing great talent in defending and became a starter in Atlas's defensive line up, leading Atlas all the way to the quarter-finals to face Club América, but lost to them in an aggregate score of (7–4). Throughout his career with Atlas he was mostly used as a substitute until the manager, Ricardo La Volpe, took his place as manager of Atlas. La Volpe then started having confidence in Ayala, and made Ayala a starter and captain for Atlas.

Tigres UANL

On 2010, he arrived to Tigres UANL and by 2011 he already was the starter centre-back along with Juninho, both key players for the Apertura 2011 championship. Ayala was named best defender of the Apertura 2011 season alongside teammate Jorge Torres Nilo. Ayala, a starter in Tigres since 2011, later would become champion with the team in the Apertura 2015, Apertura 2016, Apertura 2017 and Clausura 2019 seasons besides runner-up of the 2015 Copa Libertadores. He retired in 2023, and became assistant for Tigres' head coach Marco Antonio Ruiz.

In May 2018, Ayala was named in Mexico's preliminary 28-man squad for the World Cup in Russia, and was ultimately included in the final 23-man roster revealed on 4 June. He would go on to appear in the opening group stage match against Germany, which Mexico won 1–0, and the round-of-16 loss against Brazil.

As of 12 September 2018

Scores and results list Mexico's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ayala goal.

Tigres UANL

Liga MX Apertura: Apertura 2011, Apertura 2015, Apertura 2016, Apertura 2017 Liga MX Clausura: 2019 Copa MX: Clausura 2014 Campeón de Campeones: 2016, 2017, 2018 CONCACAF Champions League: 2020 Campeones Cup: 2018 Mexico

Pan American Games Bronze Medal: 2007 Individual

Mexican Primera División Best Rookie: Clausura 2007 Mexican Primera División Best Center-back: Apertura 2011 Liga MX Best Defender: 2017–18 Liga MX Apertura Best XI: 2015, 2017 Liga MX Clausura Best XI: 2019 CONCACAF Best XI: 2018 CONCACAF Champions League Team of the Tournament: 2020