Francisco Guillermo Ochoa Magaña, better known as Memo Ochoa, has done something only two other footballers in history can claim. The 40-year-old Mexican goalkeeper has now appeared in six FIFA World Cups, placing him alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in one of the sport’s most exclusive clubs.
Ochoa entered the pitch as a substitute in the 78th minute of Mexico’s group stage match against Czechia on June 24, 2026. It was a brief cameo, but one that cemented a career spanning two decades of international football, and it came on home soil, no less, with Mexico co-hosting the 2026 tournament alongside the US and Canada.
A career bookended by World Cups
Ochoa’s World Cup journey began in 2006, when he was a fresh-faced member of Mexico’s squad. Twenty years later, he’s been named to the roster for every single edition: 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and now 2026.
His selection for the 2026 squad was announced on May 31, when Mexico finalized its 26-man roster. Ochoa was 40 at the time and will turn 41 during the tournament.
