Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa retires after 22-year career

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing AP, reported that Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has announced his retirement from both club and international football, ending a 22-year professional career. The 41-year-old, long regarded as one of Mexico’s leading goalkeepers, confirmed the decision on social media on Tuesday after previously saying the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be his final tournament.

Ochoa was part of Mexico’s squads at six World Cups, a rare mark also associated with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and was the national team’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 editions. At the 2026 World Cup in North America, he was mainly a reserve behind Raul Rangel, but manager Javier Aguirre brought him on late in Mexico’s final group match against Czechia at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, where he received an emotional farewell.

His club career began with Club America in February 2004. After seven seasons, he moved to Ajaccio in France in 2011, with Al Jazeera reporting that he became the first Mexico-born goalkeeper to play in Europe. He later had spells with Malaga, Granada, Standard Liege, Salernitana, AVS Futebol and AEL Limassol, along with a return to Club America from 2019 to 2022.

Ochoa’s honours included the 2005 Clausura league title with Club America, a Belgian Cup with Standard Liege, six CONCACAF Gold Cup titles with Mexico and an Olympic bronze medal at Tokyo 2020. His retirement closes a career closely tied to Mexico’s modern World Cup history.