Guillermo Ochoa retires at 41, closing a 22-year career for club and country

MEXICO CITY (AP) - Guillermo Ochoa - widely considered among the greatest Mexican goalkeepers in history-announced his retirement from elite soccer on Tuesday, bringing an end to a distinguished 22-year professional career.

Ochoa, who turned 41 last week, had previously stated that the 2026 World Cup would be his last tournament, though speculation had swirled about whether he might sign with a new club to extend his playing days.

He put those rumors to rest.

"I gave it my all; I left everything on the field for my clubs and the national team, and today I hang up my gloves," Ochoa posted on social media. "Being a goalkeeper means knowing you might wait 90 minutes for a single moment when everything depends on you. And when that moment arrives, you cannot hesitate."

Ochoa was selected on Mexico's roster for six World Cups - a number shared only by icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. He served as Mexico's starting goalkeeper in three of them: Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022.

Ochoa made his top-flight debut with Club América in February 2004. He spent his first seven seasons there before transferring to French club Ajaccio in 2011, becoming the first Mexico-born goalkeeper to play in Europe. His European career also included stints with Málaga, Granada, Standard Liège, Salernitana, AVS Futebol, and AEL Limassol, punctuated by a three-year return to América from 2019 to 2022.

"I never imagined how far a dream could take me. Today, I can only look back with pride and say: Thank you," Ochoa wrote. "I take with me the affection of millions and the peace of mind that comes with knowing I gave everything for Mexico."

Though he served primarily as a backup to Raúl Rangel in the recent World Cup, manager Javier Aguirre brought Ochoa on for the final 13 minutes against the Czech Republic in Mexico's last group-stage match. Following the final whistle, an emotional Ochoa kissed the goalposts at the Estadio Azteca - the venue where his career began - before kneeling to accept an embrace from his teammates. Long after the stands had cleared, Ochoa walked out to the center circle one last time to take in his final farewell.

At the club level, Ochoa captured a league title with América during the 2005 Clausura tournament and won the Belgian Cup with Standard Liège. On the international stage, he led Mexico to six CONCACAF Gold Cup titles and earned a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.