Guillermo Ochoa (Guadalajara, Mexico; 1985) starred in one of the most bizarre stories of last summer. The Mexican goalkeeper was meeting to sign for Burgos,but he went for a coffee… and never came back.“Let them tell the real version. They changed the contract figure suddenly and downwards,” Ochoa’s entourage told MARCA. “I could go into detail about all the players who could have been with us and didn’t end up here, but I don’t want to get into that. It was an option we had and it didn’t materialise,” said ‘Michu’, Burgos’ sporting director, to ‘settle’ the controversy.
It was an option we had and it didn’t materialize
The former America, Malaga and Granada goalkeeper ended up signing for AEL Limassol with the dream of playing in his sixth World Cup – he has 11 appearances between Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 – on the horizon. A dream that, at the age of 41, is once again taking shape.
He had missed nine matches (friendlies). To find his last call-up, you have to go back to July 7, 2025: he was Luis Malagon’s substitute in the Gold Cup final against the USA (1-2). However, now, after almost a year away from the national team, ‘El Memo’ is back.
Javier Aguirre has called him up along with Raul Rangel (Chivas Guadalajara) and Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna) to defend the goal in the friendlies against Belgium and Portugal“It’s an honor to represent my country Mexico. It’s always special to come back. With the same enthusiasm and the same commitment to give everything for these colors,” said the Mexican on Instagram.
Ochoa, who has conceded 35 goals and kept six clean sheets in the 24 games he has played with AEL Limassol (eighth) this season, will look to continue to expand his legend. Only Guardado (180) and Claudio Suarez (176) surpass his 151 international appearances.
The Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist has won six Gold Cups (2009, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023 and 2025) with ‘El Tri’, as well as having won a Concacaf Nations League (2025).
In the ‘Olympus’ of the World Cup
If his presence is confirmed, Ochoa would become part of World Cup history. He already is, in fact. He is tied with Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guardado and Rafael Marquez (Mexico), Lothar Matthaus (Germany), Leo Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) with five World Cups.Now, like Messi and Cristiano, he is going for the sixth. A milestone that no one has achieved before. ‘El Memo’ does not give up. He wants more.
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