TThe World Cup is fast approaching and everything seems to point to the Mexican goalkeeper playing in his sixth World Cup. He will compete in the 2006 Germany Games, the 2010 South Africa Games, the 2014 Brazil Games, the 2018 Russia Games, the 2022 Qatar Games, and soon the 2026 Mexico-USA-Canada Games. His accomplishments are undeniable, but his current status is questionable.
Criticism of Memo Ochoa has grown stronger over the years, and now that he is in the twilight of his career, many are questioning whether he is currently on the level of being among the three best goalkeepers in Mexico, and whether he was even close to the level of the best goalkeepers in the world in his prime.
Goalkeepers are mainly evaluated by the number of goals conceded, but statistics are critical in this field. The Mexican goaltender has allowed over 1,200 goals in his career, a number that stands in stark contrast to the world-class goaltenders.
Note Ochoa’s numbers compared to other goalies
Guillermo Ochoa: 1,200 goals conceded Iker Casillas: 869 goals conceded Gianluigi Buffon: 825 goals conceded Oliver Kahn: 786 goals conceded
The difference is obvious. The contrast is still stark when compared to Oswaldo Sanchez, who conceded around 900 goals in 701 games.
However, there are important nuances worth noting. It’s the quality of the teams he played for. With the exception of America, most of the teams he developed (Ajaccio, Salernitana, AVS) were bottom-of-the-table clubs expected to avoid relegation. For example, Casillas spent most of his career with Real Madrid and Porto, clubs that dominated their respective leagues. Another factor is the amount of time you spend playing the game. Continuing with the example, Casillas retired due to heart disease at age 38, while Ochoa will likely still be active until age 41.
How many goals did Memo Ochoa concede with each club?
America: 525 goals in 424 games Ajaccio: 186 goals in 116 games Malaga: 19 goals in 19 games Granada: 82 goals in 39 games Standard Liege: 113 goals in 86 games Salernitana: 77 goals in 41 games 45 goals in 23 games AEL Limassol: 15 goals in 6 games Mexico national team: 154 goals in 152 games
Meanwhile, Ochoa is also recognized as one of the best players on the Mexican national team at the World Cup. Making miraculous saves against the likes of Neymar, Luka Modric and Robert Lewandowski, the Mexican goalkeeper has established himself in the tricolor team and has gone above and beyond to become one of the best goalkeepers in Mexico’s history under the three posts.
Throughout his career, Guillermo Ochoa’s name has been linked to clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester United and PSG. However, the best club he landed at was Malaga in La Liga, where he was unable to establish himself as a starter. In contrast, modern goalkeepers from the Americas, such as Keylor Navas, David Ospina and Claudio Bravo, have managed to establish themselves in elite teams, building their careers from mid-table teams to European champions.
It’s clear that Ochoa is far from the best and has definitely not been able to make the leap to be compared to the best goalies in the world, but he is left in a category that no other Mexican goalie can reach.
