The scene will soon be ready to be set for 2026 FIFA VMco -host of USA, Canada and Mexico—En-in-one generation’s opportunity for Mexican football. The eyes of the world will focus not only on new talents but also on the game’s biggest icons. With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Expected to contain one last time, another player seemed just as consistent in the tournament folklore, intended to join them in a historically sixth appearance.
But Whispers has appeared and cast doubt on the presence of one of Mexico’s most iconic players – a man whose name evokes memories of breathtaking rescues, impossible reflexes and heroic conceptions every four years. While his teammate Santiago Gimenez Looks like leading the next generation, this veteran’s name may be absent from the squad list when Mexico starts at Hemmarken.
Internet Sensation and World Cup Legend
That mystery man? Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa.
Few goalkeepers in world football have ever had that kind of love and mythos Ochoa has earned. Over Five World Cup performancesOchoa has transformed himself from a solid club artist to one National heroWent into the global limelight with fantastic performances that became things by the legend.
From Six rescues against Brazil 2014including two miraculous stops on Neymar and Thiago Silvato Nine rescues against Germany in 2018which helps Mexico to stun the then defendants and have consistently risen at the moment. Even in Qatar 2022, at the age of 37, he proved his permanent shine by saving Robert Lewandowski’s punishmentEarn Tricolor an important point against Poland.
“To show up at a sixth World Cup in Mexico would be very special to me; for Mexican football it would go down in football history, and nowAt this stage only three players can do it: Ronaldo, Messi and me, ”said Ochoa in a new interview from 2024 with Flash. “It’s not easy as a goalkeeper … but I want to be at the World Cup. We’ll see if I can.”
Race Against Time
Now 39 years oldOchoa is currently playing in Portugal with TACKA feature intended to keep him sharp and on the national team radar. He remains professional, dedicated and physically prepared – but football moves quickly and A new generation of Mexican goalkeepers Make their demands.
The largest sign of a shift came under Conceacaf Nations League FinalWhere Mallague Luis AngelThe Rangel riverand Carlos Moreno was selected over him by coach Javier Aguirre. This exclusion raised the eyebrows and led to speculation that Ochoa’s time with El Tri can be over.
And the hardest battle? Oswaldo Sanchezself a legendary goalkeeper with Three World Cup under his beltDoes not see the veteran as a member of the 2026 list. “I see both [Malagon and Rangel] Going very well … and I would add Carlos Acevedo, ” Sanchez said at the official disclosure of the Guadalajara World Cup. “It is the three who should fight for the position.”
