‘Mexico above all’: 40-year-old Guillermo Ochoa retires after hosts crash out of 2026 World Cup

Guillermo Ochoa, the iconic goalkeeper who carried Mexico’s hopes across five World Cups, has called time on his career. The 40-year-old made the announcement on Instagram moments after El Tri’s painful early exit from the 2026 World Cup — a tournament they were hosting. “Mexico above all. It was the greatest honor of my life,” Ochoa wrote, addressing the nation he represented 171 times. His farewell post thanked teammates, coaches, and fans for a journey that turned him into a global symbol of Mexican football. Ochoa’s heroics on the biggest stage — especially his stunning saves against Brazil in 2014, Germany in 2018, and Poland in 2022 — made him a household name far beyond his homeland. But at a home World Cup, Mexico couldn’t escape the group stage, and Ochoa decided that moment marked the right time to walk away. No fanfare, just class — exactly how he played.