Soccer
I am the journeyman goalkeeper preparing for my sixth World Cup
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Everyone knows that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is the last hurrah for superstars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, who were all first named to their respective national teams' World Cup squads way back in 2006, but there is another player who has lasted just as long as those legends.
Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who has been named to his sixth World Cup roster ahead of this month's tournament, is set to once again man the goals for El Tri.
And this time it'll be on home soil.
Ochoa, who will turn 41 next month, has become something of a meme for his apparent ability to play spectacularly for the Mexicans at each World Cup before disappearing into relative obscurity for four years, only to repeat the cycle once again.
But calling his two-decade career obscure is unfair to the shot-stopper, as Ochoa made his name locally for Liga MX giants Club America before embarking on a global tour that would make fictional thief Carmen Sandiego blush. The goalkeeper has enjoyed professional stops in France (Ajaccio), Spain (Malaga and Granada), Belgium (Standard Liège), Italy (Salernitana), Portugal (AVS), and even Cyprus (AEL Limassol), filling his passport while also helping prevent opponents from filling his teams' nets.
Ochoa has always found a way to play at the top levels of whatever country he is in, and that has helped launch one of the most prolific international careers a goalkeeper has had, with 152 caps for Mexico across World Cups, Gold Cups, a FIFA Confederations Cup, CONCACAF Nations Leagues and even the 2020 Summer Olympics.
He now prepares for a record-equalling sixth World Cup, alongside the aforementioned Messi and Ronaldo, and Ochoa may just be as recognizable for Mexico as those other two legends are for their respective countries.
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