Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa announced his retirement from professional football this Tuesday, after a 22-year career in which he participated in six World Cups, including the 2026 edition, co-hosted by his country, the United States, and Canada. “I gave it my all, I left everything on the pitch for my teams and the national team, and today I hand over my gloves,” said the 41-year-old footballer in a message posted on his social media, putting an end to a career developed at nine clubs in seven countries and with the national team.
Ochoa made his professional debut with Club América of Mexico on February 15, 2004, under Dutch head coach Leo Beenhakker, while his debut for the Mexican national team came on December 14, 2005, under Argentine coach Ricardo La Volpe. His last match with El Tri was on June 24 against the Czech Republic at the Estadio Azteca, on the third matchday of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, after coming on in the 78th minute.
Throughout his career, he faced the Argentine national team on five occasions. The most notable duels in official tournaments were two: the semifinals of the 2007 Copa América, where Mexico lost 3-0, and the group stage match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which ended in a 2-0 defeat for the North American side. Although Ochoa was part of the squads for the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where Mexico was also eliminated by Argentina, he did not play any minutes in those tournaments, as he was the backup to Oswaldo Sánchez and Óscar “Conejo” Pérez, respectively.
The other three encounters were in friendly matches, all resulting in defeat for the Mexican goalkeeper. The first was in 2008, a 4-1 loss in San Diego; the second took place in 2018 in the city of Córdoba and ended 2-0 in favor of the Albiceleste; and the last friendly was in 2019, when Mexico suffered a 4-0 thrashing in San Antonio, Texas. In total, during those five matches against Argentina, Ochoa conceded 15 goals.
At club level, his most important titles came with Club América, where he was crowned Liga MX champion (Clausura 2005), won the Campeón de Campeones trophy (2005), and won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2006. During his time in Europe, he lifted a title with Standard Liège, winning the Belgian Cup in the 2017-2018 season, starting in the final.
With the Mexican national team, Ochoa holds the record for winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup on five occasions (2009, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023), making him the player with the most titles in the history of this tournament. Additionally, he was a key player in winning the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. On a personal level, his accolades include multiple distinctions such as the Gold Cup Golden Glove, inclusions in various league Best XIs, and his historic nomination for the France Football Ballon d’Or in 2007, being the first Mexican to appear on that list.
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Para mí Ochoa es un héroe de verdad, se bancó seis Mundiales mientras los zurdos de mierda lloraban por pavadas. Grande Memo, la grandeza de México no se negocia, me parece que estos progres no entienden nada.
para mi este ochea es un vendido a los ricos 6 mundiales y nunca dijo nada de los pibes del conurbano q se mueren de sed se retira y todos felices puro circo globalista chau vendido