On 5 October 1974, Cristóbal Ortega made his debut for Club América against Ciudad Madero.
In his Primera Liga debut on 8 June 1975, Ortega scored his first goal against Veracruz - so began an 18-year career in which he remained in the Club América midfield.
Club América won league titles in the seasons 1975–76, 1983–84, 1984–85, Prode 1985, 1987-88 and 1988–89.
In his final game for Club América, on 15 December 1991 at Santos Laguna, he started and was substituted at the start of the second half by manager Isaac Terrazas; he scored his last goal three years prior on 3 January 1988, against Cruz Azul.
He was readmitted to a hospital in December 2024, after undergoing surgery for the disease earlier that year.