Mexico’s legendary goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, now 40, has officially announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark his final appearance on the global stage.
In an emotional social media post, the veteran shot-stopper, who is set to compete in his sixth World Cup tournament, confirmed that this will be his last run with the national team in a World Cup.
“Wearing this jersey has never been a routine… it has been a privilege. Today begins my last concentration. But this time I experience it differently. With a fuller heart, more scars, more memories… and the same ambition of that child who once dreamed of defending this crest,” Ochoa wrote.
“Maybe football measures the years. But passion has never learned to count time. I am home. I am with my national team. And as long as there is an opportunity to fight for this country… my soul will be there first. On to the 2026 World Cup,” he added.
Ochoa, a standout figure in recent World Cups for Mexico, previously played for Málaga and Granada in Spain. He currently plays for AEL Limassol in Cyprus, where he has made 26 appearances this season.
The veteran goalkeeper is one of the biggest stars of recent World Cups and is on the verge of making history as the player with the most World Cup tournament appearances.
If he takes the field in 2026, Ochoa — who made his World Cup debut in 2006 — will participate in his sixth World Cup, tying or breaking the record for most appearances in the competition. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could also match this feat in the tournament to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.