40-year-old Mexican Goalkeeper Ochoa set for historic sixth world cup

Mexican goalkeeper, Guillermo Ochoa is set to become the first goalkeeper in history to feature in six World Cup tournaments after being named in Mexico’s squad for the upcoming finals.

The 40-year-old, who currently plays for Cypriot club AEL Limassol, joins football icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in making a sixth appearance at the global showpiece.

However, unlike Ronaldo and Messi, who remain first-choice stars for their teams, Ochoa is expected to play a limited role after falling down the pecking order in recent years.

Ochoa, whose World Cup journey began in Germany in 2006, headlines a squad that also includes forwards Raúl Jiménez and Santiago Giménez, who play for Fulham and AC Milan respectively.

Two naturalised players, Spain-born midfielder Álvaro Fidalgo and Colombia-born forward Julián Quiñones, have become key figures in Javier Aguirre’s squad.

Seventeen-year-old Gilberto Mora is also included and is set to become the youngest player ever to represent Mexico at a World Cup.

For head coach Javier Aguirre, 67, this will be his third World Cup in charge, having previously led Mexico in 2002 and 2010. On both occasions, the team failed to progress beyond the group stage, but they will be hoping for a stronger run this time, aiming to replicate the achievements of the 1970 and 1986 squads that reached the quarter-finals when Mexico hosted the tournament.

Mexico, co-hosting the tournament with the United States and Canada, will open their campaign against South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City. They will then face South Korea on June 18 before concluding their group stage against the Czech Republic on June 24.

 

Mexico Squad

Goalkeepers: Raúl Rangel (Guadalajara), Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol, Cyprus), Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna)

Defenders: Israel Reyes (América), Jorge Sánchez (PAOK, Greece), César Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Johan Vásquez (Genoa, Italy), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), Mateo Chávez (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands)

Midfielders: Edson Álvarez (West Ham, England), Luis Romo (Guadalajara), Obed Vargas (Atlético Madrid, Spain), Brian Gutiérrez (Guadalajara), Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens, Greece), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Gilberto Mora (Tijuana), César Huerta (Anderlecht, Belgium), Álvaro Fidalgo (Real Betis, Spain), Luis Chávez (Dynamo Moscow, Russia)

Forwards: Roberto Alvarado (Guadalajara), Alexis Vega (Toluca), Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadsiah, Saudi Arabia), Santiago Giménez (AC Milan, Italy), Guillermo Martínez (Pumas), Armando González (Guadalajara), Raúl Jiménez (Fulham, England)