Mexican goalkeeper Ochoa set for historic sixth World Cup
Mexican star Guillermo Ochoa is poised to make history as the first goalkeeper to participate in six World Cup finals after being selected for the co-hosts’ squad.
At 40 years old, Ochoa, who currently plays for AEL Limassol in Cyprus, joins renowned players Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, both of whom are also making their sixth appearance at the quadrennial football event.
Nevertheless, unlike Ronaldo and Messi, who are guaranteed starting positions, Ochoa is expected to have limited playing time due to his recent decline in the selection hierarchy.
Ochoa, who made his World Cup debut in Germany in 2006, leads the squad alongside forwards Raul Jimenez and Santiago Gimenez, who represent Premier League club Fulham and Serie A powerhouse AC Milan, respectively.
Two players included in the squad announced on Sunday — Spain-born midfielder Alvaro Fidalgo and Colombia-born forward Julian Quinones — have become essential members of the team coached by Javier Aguirre since obtaining naturalization.
Gilberto Mora, a promising 17-year-old attacking midfielder, is on track to become the youngest player to represent Mexico in a World Cup.
For Aguirre, aged 67, this will mark his third World Cup as head coach, having previously managed the team during the 2002 and 2010 tournaments.
On both occasions, Mexico did not advance past the group stage, but this time, they aspire to emulate the successes of 1970 and 1986 — the years they also hosted the finals — by reaching the quarter-finals.
Mexico, co-hosting the tournament with Canada and the United States, will kick off the event with a match against South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City.
They will then face South Korea on June 18 and conclude the group stage against the Czech Republic on June 24.
Mexico squad:
Goalkeepers: Raul Rangel (Guadalajara), Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol, CYP), Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna)
Defenders: Israel Reyes (America), Jorge Sanchez (PAOK/GRE), Cesar Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow/RUS), Johan Vasquez (Genoa/ITA), Jesus Gallardo (Toluca), Mateo Chavez (Alkmaar/NED)
Forwards: Roberto Alvarado (Guadalajara), Alexis Vega (Toluca), Julian Quinones (Al-Qadisiyah, KSA), Santiago Gimenez (AC Milan/ITA), Guillermo MartÃnez (Pumas), Armando Gonzalez (Guadalajara), Raul Jimenez (Fulham/ENG)
