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 group.

Nonetheless holding it down as a high 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 america 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 stored an in depth eye on CONCACAF nations, it has to really feel as if Ochoa’s time with Mexico has spanned a technology.

Ochoa, higher referred to as “Memo” has performed in 151 senior-level video games for the nationwide group and in that point fueled a file 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 probably the most success within the competitors — largely as a result of he’s its longest mainstay.

The majority of his membership profession has discovered him on the rosters of famed Mexican group Membership América, the place he spent two stints from 2004-11, and once more from 2019-22. He’s performed 357 video games for Membership 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.

Photograph by Gualter Fatia/Getty Photographs

The transfer to AVS, was strategic one as there have been rumors after he left Italian membership Salertnitana earlier this yr, that he would look to make a transfer to Main League Soccer. Nevertheless, 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 file of the one participant to make six World Cup rosters for one nation.

“For me, the motivation is to proceed to get to know this new league and to maintain up the thought of constructing the Mexico nationwide group, in my hopes and to play within the subsequent World Cup,” Ochoa mentioned in accordance with an ESPN report in September.

‘It’s not going to be straightforward’

Wanting on the monitor file coming off the final World Cup in Qatar, some would possibly say Ochoa’s want to get again derives from proving individuals incorrect who advised 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 aim towards Saudi Arabia that pushed El Tri down the standings and out of the event on aim differential.

He even partly blamed himself for Mexico’s shortcomings after the sport, but in addition known as out {that a} younger Mexican roster, considered one of its youngest in a FIFA World Cup event took the sphere. Nevertheless, in his estimation the group conveyed that there’s loads to take from the loss because the they develop for the longer term and look towards 2026.

“You shouldn’t ask your self when you’re shifting ahead or backwards due to a consequence,” Ochoa informed reporters following the loss to the Saudis. “It’s a mistake that each 4 years you say that the cycle is over and also you begin from scratch. It’s one of many errors and experiences that I’ve needed to reside by means of and that we shouldn’t have made. There are kids who performed their first World Cup and gained expertise and who’re taking a step ahead. And we have now to information them for the subsequent World Cup, as a result of it’s not going to be straightforward.”

As a number, 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 recollections that stem from the sting of their group stage exit in 2022.

Might Ochoa be amongst that blend?

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