Bosnia And Herzegovina
Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
South Korea

Ochoa is a World Cup legend and 'Memo' will hope to be Mexico's hero again

talksport.com, 15 November 2022, 16:07
Guillermo Ochoa will play in his fifth and surely final World Cup this winter for Mexico as they look to be the surprise package in Qatar.

The 37-year-old, who is referred to in his homeland as 'Memo', has become a cult figure for his appearances on football's biggest stage.

Advertisement

Ochoa - full name Francisco Guillermo Ochoa Magaaa - is currently playing in Liga MX (Mexico's top division).

He is captain of Mexico City side Club America and has been plying his trade in his native country since moving from Standard Liege in 2019.

Ochoa came through the professional ranks at America and during his first stint he became the first Mexican to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 2007.

Advertisement

Throughout his career, he's travelled to Europe to play for Ligue 1 team Ajaccio and spent three years in Spain at Malaga and Granada.

Yet the fact Ochoa never turned out for an elite European side may have been a surprise to fans who have watched him become the best goalkeeper in the world every four years.

He was one of five Mexico players who tested positive for clenbuterol in 2011 - they were cleared two months later but the saga cost him a proposed move to Paris Saint-Germain.

Advertisement

Ochoa's heroics in 2014 raised hopes of a revival at club level, with Arsenal among the Premier League teams interested in him.

But instead he found himself signing for Malaga in a move that proved disastrous as he spent most of the time on the bench.

Advertisement

Ochoa's club career may not have hit the heights he would have wanted but on the international stage it's a different story.

Advertisement

The Guadalajara-born superstar made his debut for his country in 2005 and is their most-capped goalkeeper with 130 outings.

And that is despite the fact that he was called up to the 2006 and 2010 World Cup squads but failed to make a single appearance.

In 2014, it was Ochoa's time to shine as he produced a man of the match display to keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw with Brazil.

He made six saves, including two stunning stops to deny Neymar and Fred, and ultimately conceded just once in three group games as Mexico qualifed as runners-up.

Advertisement

Ochoa then collected another Man of the Match award for the last-16 game against Netherlands, but was powerless to stop Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scoring a stoppage-time penalty winner.

Ochoa returned to Russia 2018 with a vengeance following that defeat, making 25 saves in only FOUR games for Mexico.

Only Thibaut Courtois made more in the tournament overall and Belgium played three more matches having reached the semi-finals and then played in a third-placed playoff.

Advertisement

Mexico are now set to face Argentina in Group C in what will be Lionel Messi's final dance as well - the clash of two World Cup GOATS…

Show more

Top News

11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tranmere vs. Fleetwood (Tuesday, 7.45pm) Looking to turn their fortunes around, struggling Tranmere Rovers welcome Fleetwood Town for their rescheduled matchday 16 League Two fixture this Tuesday. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Coventry vs. QPR (Tuesday, 7.45pm) Frank Lampard's Coventry City will hope to bounce back from FA Cup disappointment when they host Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday in the Championship at the Coventry Arena. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brest vs. PSG (Tuesday, 5.45pm) Frequent foes in the French top flight, Paris Saint-Germain and Brest swap Ligue 1 for the Champions League on Tuesday evening, colliding in the first leg of their playoff tie at the Stade Francis-Le Ble. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has predicted the winner of the knockout round playoff tie with Manchester City will go on to win the Champions League. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti have addressed the controversy from the 2024 Ballon d'Or awards ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash between their respective sides. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has reportedly reached an agreement to join Brazilian side Flamengo in the summer. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Manchester City must axe Pep Guardiola if they fail to get past Real Madrid in the Champions League. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Separated by five points in the middle of the Championship table, Swansea City and Sheffield Wednesday will square off in South Wales on Wednesday. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Abdoulaye Doucoure has criticised Frank Lampard's treatment of him during his time as Everton manager. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde during the summer transfer window. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly growing in confidence that they will complete the signing of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia this summer after last year's failed move. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has reportedly attracted interest from Chelsea and Newcastle United ahead of the summer transfer window. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The pick of Tuesday's Champions League playoff first-leg matches undoubtedly comes from the Etihad, where 2022-23 winners Manchester City and current holders Real Madrid square off in a clash of the titans. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly prepared to let Casemiro leave on loan to Flamengo before the end of the month. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Stars of the FA Cup fourth round Plymouth Argyle have been rewarded for their stunning win over Liverpool by being drawn against Manchester City. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Plymouth Argyle have been handed another mammoth task in the FA Cup fifth round having been drawn against Manchester City. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica travel to the Stade Louis II for the second time this season to face Monaco in the Champions League knockout round playoffs on Wednesday night. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool go to Goodison Park for a Merseyside derby against Everton for the final time on Wednesday night in the 245th iteration of the fixture. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's "best chance" of quelling the "almighty threat" of Real Madrid in the Champions League could be to select almost the same defence that excelled during their treble-winning season, Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Manchester City host Real Madrid this Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League play-off blockbuster. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Abdukodir Khusanov performed well in Man City's FA Cup win over Leyton Orient and there were signs to suggest that he has the potential to develop into a "special player", Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will ring the changes again when they welcome Bayern Munich to Glasgow in the Champions League on Wednesday. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich could be largely unchanged from the team that beat Werder Bremen when they go to Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday night. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic will play their first Champions League knockout match for 12 years when they welcome German giants Bayern Munich to Glasgow on Wednesday night. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Joao Felix has admitted he'd welcome the opportunity to stay at AC Milan despite being on loan from Chelsea. 10 February 2025 talksport.com A former Chelsea midfielder has returned to the UK in a new role over a decade after becoming a pastor in Canada. 10 February 2025 talksport.com While Harry Kane is well on course to win the first trophy of his career, he's already got numbers two and three on his mind. 10 February 2025 talksport.com A former Premier League star has quietly resigned from his latest managerial post after just 20 days. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard hailed 'incredible' Pilgrims manager Miron Muslic after their FA Cup giant-killing of Liverpool. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Joao Felix has revealed whether he would be willing to consider a permanent transfer from Chelsea to AC Milan during the summer.