The Mexican national team were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup after losing a truly thrilling match against England in the round of 16 (3–2).

Once the match was over, all the cameras turned to Guillermo Ochoa, who decided to bring his career as a professional footballer to an end.

The 40-year-old goalkeeper was visibly moved in the centre of the pitch at the Azteca Stadium, the very venue where he made his official debut more than two decades ago.

Ochoa bids farewell to football and the Mexican national team having been the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper in recent years. A legacy that will live on forever.

Throughout his career, he amassed a series of statistical records that will be difficult to match and built up an outstanding list of honours at international level.

What’s more, as if that weren’t enough, ‘Memo’ holds a unique individual honour in his country: he was the only footballer born in Mexico to have been nominated for the Ballon d'Or (2007).

With that in mind, below we’ll take a look back at the highlights of his professional career and everything he has brought to Mexican football over a career spanning more than 20 years.

Records of a World Cup legend

Guillermo Ochoa played a total of 154 official matches for the Mexico senior national team. This figure places him among the players with the most appearances in his country’s history.

Only legends such as Andrés Guardado (182) and Claudio Suárez (177) have played more matches than ‘Memo’ in the Mexican national team shirt.

Furthermore, with this tournament, Ochoa has now made his sixth World Cup appearance, having been part of the Mexican squads in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026.

He shares this record with a very select group of footballers in the history of the World Cup, comprising none other than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

A winning goalkeeper

For his part, beyond his impressive number of appearances for ‘El Tri’, Ochoa has built a winning and successful career with his national team throughout his playing career.

At international level, he won eight CONCACAF titles and even had the pleasure of being part of the squad that won the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Ochoa’s full honours list with the Mexican national team:

  • 6-time CONCACAF Gold Cup winner (Mexican national team)

  • 1-time CONCACAF Nations League champion (Mexican national team)

  • Bronze medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (Mexico Under-23s)

Ochoa’s career in club football

Guillermo Ochoa has also played in goal for various teams both in Mexico and in European leagues.

At each of them, he has left an indelible mark.

Here is an overview of Guillermo Ochoa’s club career:

  • Club América (Mexico): 2004–2011

  • Ajaccio (France): 2011–2014

  • Málaga (Spain): 2014–2016

  • Granada (Spain): 2016–2017

  • Standard Liège (Belgium): 2017–2019

  • Club América (Mexico): 2019–2022

  • Salernitana (Italy): 2023–2024

  • AVS Futebol SAD (Portugal): 2024–2025

  • AEL Limassol (Cyprus): 2025–2026

“I have given my all for my country’s national team. I have sacrificed a great deal for Mexico” – Guillermo Ochoa

It is, however, straight out of a film that this final match against England was played at the Estadio Azteca.

It was, in fact, the very same venue that saw him make his first-division debut more than two decades ago.

The Mexico City stadium bid a final farewell to one of the most influential goalkeepers in the history of Mexican football.

We will always remember him for that unmistakable mane of hair that became his trademark, for his immense charisma and, above all, for becoming a true superhero between the posts whenever his national team needed him.

And from now on, it’s going to feel very strange to watch a World Cup without ‘Memo’ Ochoa, but… Without a doubt, his legacy will live on forever.