Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa will represent Mexico in a record sixth World Cup appearance after being named to the country’s 26-man roster on Monday by manager Javier Aguirre.
Ochoa, who turns 41 on July 13, will have a chance to establish the record along with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo — although it would only be the fourth he’s played in while Messi and Ronaldo would be playing in their sixth.
Mexico, a co-host nation with the United States and Canada, is in Group A and opens the tournament on Thursday, June 11 against South Africa at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca.
Ochoa told TUDN in April he planned to retire from Mexico’s national team after the World Cup — and may retire from the sport as a whole.
“Retiring is undoubtedly difficult, but in my case it won’t be so hard because I’ve enjoyed it for so many years, for so long,” Ochoa told TUDN. “There comes a point when your mind and body say, ‘You’ve given it your all,’ and you leave peacefully, and that’s going to be my case.”
In making his sixth World Cup roster, Ochoa breaks a tie with Antonio Carbajal, Rafael Marquez and Andres Guardado, the three Mexicans who made five World Cup rosters.
While this summer’s tournament may mark Ochoa’s last World Cup, it will be the first for midfielder Gilberto Mora. Mora, 17, has a chance to become the youngest Mexican to play in the tournament after he was named to the team Monday.
Mexico’s World Cup roster:
Goalkeepers: Carlos Acevedo, Guillermo Ochoa, Raul Rangel
Defenders: Edson Alvarez, Mateo Chavez, Jesus Gallardo, Cesar Montes, Israel Reyes, Jorge Sanchez, Johan Vasquez
Midfielders: Luis Chavez, Alvaro Fidalgo, Brian Gutierrez, Erik Lira, Gilberto Mora, Luis Romo, Orberlin Pineda, Obed Vargas
Forwards: Roberto Alvarado, Santiago Gimenez, Armando Gonzalez, Cesar Huerta, Raul Jimenez, Guillermo Martinez, Julian Quinones, Alexis Vega.
–Field Level Media
