GHuillermo Ochoa (Guadalajara, Mexico, 1985) starred in one of last summer’s strangest stories. The Mexican goalkeeper was in a meeting with Burgos about signing him, but went for a coffee and never returned.“We made them tell the truth. They revised the contract price suddenly and downward,” a close aide to Ochoa told MARCA. “I could go into detail about all the players who could have been with us but couldn’t be here, but I don’t want to go into that. That was an option we had, but it didn’t happen,” Burgos’ sporting director Michu said in an attempt to “settle” the controversy.
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That was an option we had but it didn’t happen
The former United States, Malaga and Granada goalkeeper has signed with AEL Limassol with the dream of competing in a sixth World Cup. He played in 11 games between the 2014 Brazil World Cup, the 2018 Russia World Cup, and the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Now, at the age of 41, that dream is taking shape once again.
He missed nine games (friendlies). To see his last call-up, you have to go back to July 7, 2025. He was a substitute for Luis Malagon in the Gold Cup final against USA (1-2). But now, after almost a year away from the national team, “El Memo” is back.
Coach Javier Aguirre called him up alongside Raul Rangel (Chivas Guadalajara) and Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna) to defend the goal in friendlies against Belgium and Portugal. “It’s an honor to represent my home country Mexico. It’s always special to come back. With the same enthusiasm and the same determination, I give everything for this color,” the Mexican player said on Instagram.
Ochoa, who has conceded 35 goals and kept six clean sheets in 24 games for AEL Limassol (8th place) this season, will continue to aim to expand on his legend. His 151 caps have been surpassed by only Guardado (180) and Claudio Suarez (176).
The Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist has won six Gold Cups with El Tri (2009, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023, 2025) and also won the Concaf Nations League (2025).
At the World Cup “Olympus”
If confirmed, Ochoa will become part of World Cup history. In fact, he already does. He joins Antonio Carvajal, Andres Guardado, Rafael Marquez (Mexico), Lothar Matthäus (Germany), Leo Messi (Argentina), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) with five World Cup appearances.Now, like Messi and Cristiano, he is aiming for number six. A milestone that no one has ever achieved before. “El Memo” will not give up. he wants more.
