Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa, tears streaming down his face, bent down and kissed the goalposts during what will be his final World Cup appearance.
Ochoa’s inclusion in Mexico’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, announced on May 31, made him just the third player in history to appear in six FIFA World Cups, joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in a club so exclusive it barely qualifies as one.
A two-decade career ends where it began
Ochoa’s World Cup journey started in 2006. Twenty years and six tournaments later, it ended on the same country’s turf where he first became a household name.
He announced his retirement from professional football following the 2026 tournament, calling the Mexican national team his lifelong “compass.”
