Can Guillermo Ochoa shine one more time in Qatar

17/11/22 2050

There are not many more popular figures at the World Cup from a goalkeeper perspective than Guillermo Ochoa. The Mexican shot stopper has been representing his country for over 17 years and accumulated a stunning 130 caps so far which has spanned across the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and now the 2022 World Cups.

Ochoa did not play in 2006 and 2010 editions of the competition, as he was used as a backup. In 2014 and 2018, however, the Mexican put himself in the legendary books of the World Cup with some of the greatest saves and performances you’re likely to see.

Now 37 and heading to his fifth World Cup, can Ochoa do it again?

His Season so Far?

Prior to the 2014 World Cup, Ochoa was at Ajaccio in Ligue 1. His performances in Brazil earned him a move to Malaga, but having barely played across three years for the club, he moved to Standard Liege. Ochoa continued to excel in Belgium, but he moved to America in Liga MX where he remains today.

Ochoa has missed just one game so far with America in the league, as his side currently sit top of the division as he hunts down his first-ever league title in his career at the age of 37. His 20 games so far in the league has seen him struggle to keep the goals out, however.

22 have gone in so far from 21 games for America, having lost four matches but won 14. At the same time, America have kept six clean sheets so far this season, but they haven't managed to keep a clean sheet in the past eight games.

Ochoa’s form prior to the World Cup has never seemed to matter because once he dons his national colours, everything seems to change, especially at the World Cup.

Ochoa is looking to move up to third in the most capped players list for Mexico before hanging up his gloves too, but with 16 more caps to go until then, he may struggle to break it.

How Are Mexico Looking?

Mexico have had a topsy-turvy time in the past year. El Tri have not been able to win two games in a row since March, as they won just four of the next 10 games since securing World Cup qualification against El Salvador in March to make it two wins in a row at that time.

From a goalkeeper and defensive perspective, however, Mexico do look relatively decent. They let in a goal in a 1-1 draw with Jamaica back in June, before three against Colombia and one against Paraguay.

Other than this, they managed to keep clean sheets against Ecuador, Suriname, Peru and Iraq within the past 10 games.