Is longtime goalkeeper ‘Memo’ Ochoa nonetheless Mexico’s man in 2026?

Guillermo Ochoa has spent half his life because the final line of protection for Mexico’s nationwide crew.

Still holding it down as a prime choice for Mexico at goalkeeper at age 39, he started what can be a 20-year worldwide profession as a fresh-faced 20-year-old in 2005. In that span, he’s led Mexico in 4 FIFA World Cups and was the backup in one other (2006). Now he’s priming himself to guide the group in 2026 when Mexico, alongside Canada and the United States host soccer’s grandest occasion.

It’s not unusual for a goalkeeper to play for many years with anybody membership or nation, however for anybody who has saved an in depth eye on CONCACAF nations, it has to really feel as if Ochoa’s time with Mexico has spanned a era.

Ochoa, higher often called “Memo” has performed in 151 senior-level video games for the nationwide crew and in that point fueled a report 5 wins within the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the biggest home event comprised of groups in North and Central America. He’s thought of one of many gamers to have had essentially the most success within the competitors — largely as a result of he’s its longest mainstay.

The bulk of his membership profession has discovered him on the rosters of famed Mexican crew Club América, the place he spent two stints from 2004-11, and once more from 2019-22. He’s performed 357 video games for Club Americá, extra video games in his whole appearances for the opposite eight golf equipment he’s been aside of together with his newest with AVS Futebol, within the Portuguese first division.

Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images

The transfer to AVS, was strategic one as there have been rumors after he left Italian membership Salertnitana earlier this 12 months, that he would look to make a transfer to Major League Soccer. However, he informed reporters that the transfer to Portugal was to largely keep on Mexico’s radar. With aspirations to play in his sixth FIFA World Cup, Ochoa would maintain the report of the one participant to make six World Cup rosters for one nation.

“For me, the motivation is to continue to get to know this new league and to keep up the idea of making the Mexico national team, in my hopes and to play in the next World Cup,” Ochoa mentioned based on an ESPN report in September.

‘It’s not going to be straightforward’

Looking on the monitor report coming off the final World Cup in Qatar, some would possibly say Ochoa’s want to get again derives from proving folks mistaken who recommended he was completed following Mexico’s unlucky exit in 2022.

Mexico failed to maneuver past the group stage for the primary time since 1978 after Ochoa let in a late objective in opposition to Saudi Arabia that pushed El Tri down the standings and out of the event on objective differential.

He even partly blamed himself for Mexico’s shortcomings after the sport, but additionally referred to as out {that a} younger Mexican roster, one in every of its youngest in a FIFA World Cup event took the sphere. However, in his estimation the group conveyed that there’s a lot to take from the loss because the they develop for the long run and look towards 2026.

“You shouldn’t ask yourself if you’re moving forward or backwards because of a result,” Ochoa informed reporters following the loss to the Saudis. “It’s a mistake that every four years you say that the cycle is over and you start from scratch. It’s one of the mistakes and experiences that I’ve had to live through and that we shouldn’t have made. There are youngsters who played their first World Cup and gained experience and who are taking a step forward. And we have to guide them for the next World Cup, because it’s not going to be easy.”

As a bunch, Mexico gained’t have to qualify for 2026, however they’re on the lookout for the teachings discovered from the majority of a 2022 group that’s 4 years older, wiser and are decided by the vivid reminiscences that stem from the sting of their group stage exit in 2022.

Could Ochoa be amongst that blend?

It’s too early to inform, however his monitor report reveals it’ll be exhausting for the Mexico’s federation to overlook what “Memo” has at all times introduced between the posts as its final line of protection.