2026 FIFA World Cup Countdown: The Mexican Octopus

38 Days to Go: Guillermo Ochoa’s World Cup Love Story

Mexico has never been the most accomplished of World Cup nations. Despite participating at 17 of the 22 World Cups that have taken place so far, El Tricolour only have two quarter-final exits as their finest showings, typically acting as a litmus test for one of the bigger sides in the round of 16.

However, their lack of success on the major tournament stage has not impacted their popularity, as throughout the years, Mexico has produced some of the most loved footballers around.

Hirving Lozano, Rafael Márquez, Hugo Sánchez, Javier Hernández – all of them contributed major chapters in the Mexican history books, and although they may not have taken their nation to the sharp end of the tournament, their exploits on the world stage are still fondly remembered.

But there is one who shall never be surpassed. A man who has rescued his side from disaster countless times; loved for his baby face, crazy hairdo, and razor-sharp reflexes, he has announced that the 2026 tournament will be his last World Cup – it's the one and only Guillermo Ochoa.

🚨 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗕𝗟𝗘! At 40 years old, Guillermo Ochoa is expected to start for Mexico at his 6th World Cup! 😍🏆🇲🇽

Starting goalkeeper Ángel Malagón has sadly been ruled out due to a serious injury.

Ochoa could therefore become the first player, alongside Messi and Ronaldo,… pic.twitter.com/sAIN6RAWPE

— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) March 11, 2026

A Global Fan Favourite

Ochoa has never been considered a world-class goalkeeper. Spending the majority of his club career in Mexico, almost exclusively at Club América, his European stints have been limited to middling top-tier sides, including Ajaccio, Malaga and Standard Liège.

In Mexico, however, he has long been near the top of the list of greatest ever players, and with 151 international appearances to his name, it speaks volumes that he is third on their all-time international cap list.

As English fans, we have a tendency to disregard most players outside of Europe’s top-flight leagues – it all simply seems too far removed from where our respective clubs operate and, thus, less important.

However, in Pan-American competitions, Ochoa has been a big deal for some time, and when Maradona describes someone as “one of the top three goalkeepers in the world” following a cup final performance all the way back in 2007, he genuinely has good cause for saying such a thing.

As such, Ochoa’s stock grew rapidly in his home country and, after being an unused back-up at the 2006 World Cup, he broke into the side as the clear number one the very next year, and the legend of Guillermo Ochoa was born.

The man. The myth. The legend. 🌟

MEMO OCHOA. 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/aWiNIc1l6f

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 1, 2026

Right as the 2010 World Cup was around the corner, however, the fuzzy-haired Mexican was usurped once again, with manager Javier Aguirre preferring the experience of Oscar Perez over Ochoa, despite the stopper making more than 30 international appearances between the two tournaments.

Though they progressed through the group stages, Mexico were roundly beaten by Argentina in the last 16, and Ochoa had watched a second World Cup come and go without an appearance – perhaps it would never be his time.

The Rise of the Octopus

Fortunately, Perez retired prior to the 2014 World Cup, and whichever direction new manager Miguel Herrera searched for a replacement, he could look no further than the hulking frame of Guillermo Ochoa, and finally, he was elected as the undisputed number one for the tournament.

Placed in Group A alongside the hosts for the second edition running, things started well with a 1-0 win over Cameroon – a clean sheet on debut is always a nice little confidence boost ahead of later, potentially more important games.

However, it wasn’t in this game that Ochoa stood out – instead, it was against host nation Brazil, who, despite boasting the firepower of Neymar, Oscar, Fred and Jo, couldn't find the back of the Mexican net. We’ll give you a hint – their defensive line had nothing to do with it.

Ochoa made a string of unbelievable saves, throwing himself around with seemingly no care for his own well-being – clearly, the clean sheet mattered more than his own personal health, and it was a showing that quickly earned him the nickname of “the Octopus" – it genuinely seemed like he had more arms than anyone else!

Denying Neymar and Thiago Silva in superb fashion on multiple occasions (one was immediately compared to Gordon Banks’ iconic save to deny Pele back in 1970), the goalkeeper was the sole reason his side were able to take a point from the game.

It was a performance that caught the world's attention – football fans love unexpected heroes, and the attention given to them is only amplified on the World Cup stage. Though once again Mexico was knocked out in the last 16, this time at the hands of the Netherlands, Ochoa had finally introduced himself to the world.

🌎🏆 2026 FIFA World Cup Countdown

Day 62/100: The Rise of the Mexican Octopus 🇲🇽🐙

Guillermo Ochoa. The same number of World Cups as Messi and Ronaldo. A lot more clean sheets. You tell me who the GOAT is ...

A fan favourite around the world for his crazy hairdo and insane… pic.twitter.com/auOd7ZZ4Kx

— Football Park (@FP_CentreCircle) May 5, 2026

Four years later, he was welcomed back with open arms for the 2018 Russia World Cup and picked up where he left off as if the 2014 tournament had been yesterday. Making crucial stops in Mexico’s tournament-opening win against reigning world champions Germany, the keeper only further solidified his status as a cult hero.

To emphasise his level of performance, we need to speak stats. In seven games, Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made 27 saves on the way to a third-place finish, playing the same number of games as eventual champions France. Ochoa made 25 saves in just four games, as Mexico was once again eliminated in the second round. It highlighted how extraordinary Ochoa’s level of performance was when it came to the big stage.

Most recently, at the 2022 Qatar tournament, Ochoa once again came out of the blocks quickly, saving a Robert Lewandowski penalty in Mexico’s group opener as El Tricolour scrapped to a 0-0 draw.

However, on this occasion, Ochoa’s heroics were unable to carry his country to the knockout rounds, as for the first time since 1978, Mexico were dumped out in the group stage after conceding late on against Saudi Arabia in their final group game.

At the age of 36, many thought that was the last they would see of Ochoa. Despite maintaining his youthful smile, the Mexican was starting to enter a window where most would opt to call it days and hang up the gloves.

It was with great joy, then, that the announcement that Ochoa would retire after travelling with the Mexico squad to the 2026 World Cup was greeted – a fitting hurrah for a World Cup hero. The tournament, which for some games will be hosted in his home country, will pose as a fitting farewell for one of the games universally loved characters.

The only three footballers who are going to play in 6 different World Cups since 2006:

🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo
🇲🇽 Guillermo Ochoa
🇦🇷 Lionel Messi

Legends. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ueyqo1UABg

— World Cup Central (@WorldCupEra) April 25, 2026

An internet hero over the years, Ochoa is now a globally renowned name, one of very few who did not make their name in a European league. Between long-lasting meme appeal and scarcely believable save compilations, the 40-year-old has written himself into the fabric of World Cup history, and his performances, particularly in Mexico, will be talked about for generations.

Let’s all enjoy the Mexican octopus while we can this summer – no doubt it will be a moving love letter from the man himself to the tournament and, more importantly, the fans who turned him into a hero. Then, we’ll wave him an emotional goodbye before we prepare for the 2030 tournament which, to be quite honest, won’t feel the same without everyone’s favourite goalkeeper.