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Mexican icon Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa is preparing for one last dance for both club and country.
The legendary goalkeeper is poised to rewrite history as part of Mexico’s 2026 World Cup squad, marking a record sixth appearance on football’s biggest stage.
The news, confirmed by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano and retweeted by Ochoa himself, signals the end of an era.
After the tournament, the 40-year-old shot stopper will officially retire from both the national team and professional club football, having most recently played for Cyprus’ AEL Limassol.
“I’m leaving quietly,” Ochoa told TUDN. “It’s hard, no doubt, but in my case it won’t be that hard because I’ve enjoyed it for many years and there comes a time when your head and your body say, ‘we’ve given everything, you’ve left everything’, then you go easy and it becomes my business.”
(Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP via Getty Images)
Ochoa’s World Cup journey began as a backup in 2006 and 2010 before becoming a global sensation with heroic performances in 2014, 2018 and 2022. He also won a bronze medal with Mexico at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo as an over-age boost.
In reaching his sixth World Cup, he will join an elite pantheon of legends alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Javier Aguirre’s side are already in deep preparation, with Liga MX players reporting for training on May 6.
The final deadline is June 1, just ten days before Mexico kicks off the tournament against South Africa at the Banorte Stadium.
For “Memo,” it will be the ultimate closing chapter of a career defined by longevity, spectacular saves and national pride.
