Legendary Mexican keeper Ochoa to hang up gloves after sixth World Cup finals

[p]"Memo [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ochoa-guillermo/vRRQAdn3/"]Ochoa[/a] will play ‌his sixth World Cup representing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a], as the legendary goalkeeper will be ‌part of the squad.[/p][p][b]"Ochoa will retire from ‌professional football immediately after, leaving his club and the national ‌team," [/b]Romano, who specialises in news about transfers, ‌wrote on X.[/p][p]Ochoa appeared to confirm the news himself by reposting Romano's message.[/p][p]The World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico, the United States and ‌Canada, will be a landmark occasion for ⁠the 40-year-old shot-stopper, who ‌could become one of the very few players in history, alongside [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]​Lionel Messi[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ronaldo-cristiano/WGOY4FSt/"]Cristiano Ronaldo[/a], to appear in six World Cup tournaments.[/p][p]Ochoa first represented Mexico on ​the world stage at Germany 2006 and went on to feature at South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018 ⁠and Qatar 2022, where ​he famously saved a penalty from Poland's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lewandowski-robert/MVC8zHZD/"]Robert Lewandowski[/a].[/p][p]During his 22-year career at club level, Ochoa has played in France, Spain, Belgium, Italy and Portugal. He currently plays for ‌AEL Limassol in the Cypriot First Division.[/p][embed guid="40aa8bc1-99c8-4c80-af02-e17882e5b47a" url="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2049855942678778033" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"It could be the end for me after the World Cup. It's hard, without a doubt, but I don't think it'll be that hard for me to say goodbye,"[/b] Ochoa told Mexican outlet TUDN on Monday.[/p][p][b]"You reach a point when your head and your body tell you that you've given it your all, and you can leave with a clear ‌conscience," [/b]he added.[/p][p]Coach Javier Aguirre will unveil his final ​squad on June 1st. It remains to be seen ‌whether Ochoa's experience will earn him a place in the starting lineup for Mexico, or if the spot will go to younger goalkeeper Tala Rangel.[/p][p]Either way, Ochoa is expected to be one of the team's ⁠captains.[/p][p]The global tournament will run ⁠from June 11th to ‌July 19th.[/p]