The road to the&nbsp;2026 World Cup&nbsp;is already generating intriguing storylines, and one of the most fascinating could involve three legendary figures of the modern game.&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cristiano-ronaldo/">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a>&nbsp;could be joined by&nbsp;Guillermo Ochoa&nbsp;in making history at the tournament, as the experienced Mexican goalkeeper suddenly finds himself back in contention for a remarkable career milestone following a major injury to the&nbsp;Mexico national team’s first-choice goalkeeper.



The development came after a devastating injury to&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/Luis-Malagon">Luis Malagon</a>, the regular starter for the national team and goalkeeper for&nbsp;Club America, which could now dramatically reshape the squad heading into soccer’s biggest tournament. The situation has unexpectedly reopened the door for Ochoa, a long-time cult hero for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mexico/">Mexico</a>, to return to the world stage in what could become one of the most remarkable chapters of his career.



What makes the situation even more intriguing is the historic significance that may await if everything falls into place.



<h2>Malagon suffers devastating injury blow</h2>



Mexico’s preparations for the upcoming <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/world-cup/">World Cup</a> suffered a huge setback during a&nbsp;CONCACAF Champions Cup&nbsp;Round of 16 match between Club America and&nbsp;Philadelphia Union.



During the match, Malagon received the ball near his goal and attempted to clear it, but as he planted his foot to strike the ball, his leg suddenly gave way. The goalkeeper collapsed immediately, clutching his left foot in visible pain. Medical staff rushed onto the pitch, and the 29-year-old was eventually carried off on a stretcher.



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Confirma <a href="https://twitter.com/Andres_Vaca_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Andres_Vaca_</a> que Malagón sufrió una ruptura en el tendón de Aquiles. Aproximadamente 6 meses de recuperación. Nunca es buen momento para lesionarse, pero a tres meses del Mundial, caray… <a href="https://t.co/MY60tjdwkg">pic.twitter.com/MY60tjdwkg</a>— Adrián Esparza Oteo💎 (@A_EsparzaOteo) <a href="https://twitter.com/A_EsparzaOteo/status/2031524799940366808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2026</a></blockquote></div> 



After the match, Club America manager&nbsp;Andre Jardine&nbsp;revealed the worrying initial diagnosis. “We think it’s an injury that’s pretty serious,”&nbsp;Jardine explained.&nbsp;“Probably an Achilles tendon injury. Hopefully it’s not a complete tear, but probably a partial tear at the very least that will keep him sidelined for a good amount of time.”



Early medical assessments suggest that the Mexican shot-stopper may require surgery and could face&nbsp;six to nine months on the sidelines, effectively ruling him out of the World Cup. The injury represents a huge blow for both club and country. Malagon had been El Tri’s most trusted goalkeeper since&nbsp;Javier Aguirre&nbsp;returned as national team manager in 2024 and was the starter when Mexico won the&nbsp;CONCACAF Gold Cup&nbsp;and the&nbsp;CONCACAF Nations League&nbsp;in 2025.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/03/11143106/malagon-1920x1080.webp" alt="malagon" class="wp-image-627513"></figure><figcaption>Luis Malagon of America celebrates</figcaption></figure>



<h2>The historic milestone suddenly within reach</h2>



While Malagon’s absence is tragic for the player, it has unexpectedly opened a door for veteran goalkeeper <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/Guillermo-Ochoa/">Guillermo Ochoa</a>. At&nbsp;40 years old, Ochoa remains active with&nbsp;Limassol&nbsp;in Cyprus and has made it clear that he still hopes to represent Mexico at the upcoming World Cup.



If selected, Ochoa could achieve a milestone that&nbsp;no player in history has ever accomplished, appearing in six different FIFA World Cups. Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are also aiming for the same unprecedented achievement. Each has already played in five tournaments:



<ul><li>Messi:&nbsp;2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022</li><li>Ronaldo:&nbsp;2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/03/11143217/ronaldo-messi-1920x1080.webp" alt="ronaldo messi" class="wp-image-627514"></figure><figcaption>Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal shakes hands with Lionel Messi of Argentina</figcaption></figure>



Ochoa has an identical record, having featured for Mexico in&nbsp;2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. If the trio were selected for the 2026 tournament, they would become&nbsp;the first players ever to participate in six World Cups, rewriting a piece of soccer history.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi set for historic 2026 FIFA World Cup company as Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa eyes record milestone after Luis Malagon’s injury

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi set for historic 2026 FIFA World Cup company as Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa eyes record milestone after Luis Malagon's injury - World Soccer Talk

destacadas

The stage will soon be ready to be set for the&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/world-cup-2026/">2026 FIFA World Cup</a>, co-hosted by the&nbsp;United States, Canada, and Mexico—a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Mexican soccer. The eyes of the world will focus not only on emerging talents but also on the game’s greatest icons. With&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a> and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cristiano-ronaldo/">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>&nbsp;expected to feature one last time, another player, equally consistent in the tournament’s folklore, seemed destined to join them in a historic sixth appearance.



But whispers have emerged, casting doubt over the presence of one of Mexico’s most iconic players—a man whose very name conjures memories of breathtaking saves, impossible reflexes, and heroic performances every four years. While his teammate&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/santiago-gimenez/">Santiago Gimenez</a>&nbsp;looks to lead the next generation, this veteran’s name may be absent from the squad list when Mexico kicks off on home soil.



<h2>Internet sensation and World Cup legend</h2>



That mystery man?&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/Guillermo-Ochoa/">Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa</a>.



Few goalkeepers in world soccer have ever enjoyed the kind of love and mythos Ochoa has earned. Across&nbsp;five <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/world-cup/">World Cup</a> appearances, Ochoa has transformed himself from a solid club performer into a&nbsp;national hero, stepping into the global spotlight with stunning performances that became the stuff of legend.



From&nbsp;six saves against Brazil in 2014, including two miraculous stops on&nbsp;Neymar&nbsp;and&nbsp;Thiago Silva, to&nbsp;nine saves against Germany in 2018, helping M<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/mexico/">exico</a> stun the then-defending champions, he has consistently risen to the occasion. Even in Qatar 2022, at age 37, he proved his enduring brilliance by saving&nbsp;Robert Lewandowski’s penalty, earning the Tricolor a vital point against Poland.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20250411_WST_564871_Guillermo-Ochoa-1200x675_f5e461dc.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="Guillermo Ochoa Mexico" class="wp-image-544199" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123636/Guillermo-Ochoa-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123636/Guillermo-Ochoa-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123636/Guillermo-Ochoa-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123636/Guillermo-Ochoa-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123636/Guillermo-Ochoa-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123636/Guillermo-Ochoa-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123636/Guillermo-Ochoa-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123636/Guillermo-Ochoa.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



“To appear at a sixth World Cup in Mexico would be very special for me; for Mexican football, it would go down in football history, and now, at this stage, only three players can do it: Ronaldo, Messi and me,”&nbsp;Ochoa said in a recent 2024 interview with&nbsp;Flashscore.&nbsp;“It’s not easy as a goalkeeper… but I want to be at the World Cup. We’ll see if I can.”



<h2>Race against time</h2>



Now&nbsp;39 years old, Ochoa currently plays in Portugal with&nbsp;AVS, a move intended to keep him sharp and on the national team’s radar. He remains professional, dedicated, and physically prepared—but soccer moves fast, and&nbsp;a new generation of Mexican goalkeepers&nbsp;is making their claim.



The biggest sign of a shift came during the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/CONCACAF-Nations-League/">CONCACAF&nbsp;Nations League</a> Finals, where&nbsp;Luis Angel Malagon,&nbsp;Raul Rangel, and&nbsp;Carlos Moreno&nbsp;were selected over him by coach&nbsp;Javier Aguirre. This exclusion raised eyebrows and led to speculation that Ochoa’s time with&nbsp;El Tri&nbsp;might be over.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Guillermo Ochoa, México | 2023 Gold Cup Best Goalkeeper" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PMy21AefxsQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



And the harshest blow?&nbsp;Oswaldo Sanchez, himself a legendary goalkeeper with&nbsp;three World Cups under his belt, doesn’t see the veteran as a member of the 2026 roster. “I see both of them [Malagon and Rangel] doing very well… and I would add Carlos Acevedo,”&nbsp;Sanchez said at the official unveiling of the World Cup poster in Guadalajara.&nbsp;“Those are the three who should be fighting for the position.”

Santiago Gimenez’s teammate faces 2026 FIFA World Cup snub? Mexico’s consistent star risks end of historic run alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Santiago Gimenez’s teammate faces 2026 FIFA World Cup snub? Mexico's consistent star risks end of historic run alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi - World Soccer Talk

Mexico’s World Cup hero tipped to miss out on 2026 squad: The internet sensation who might not match Messi and Ronaldo’s legacy

Veteran Mexican goalkeeper <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/guillermo-ochoa/">Guillermo Ochoa</a> is aiming to make history by playing in his sixth FIFA World Cup. The 39-year-old, currently playing in Portugal, believes he can achieve this remarkable feat despite his age and current lack of playing time.



Ochoa’s ambition would make him the only player to ever participate in six World Cups. While acknowledging the challenge, Ochoa expressed his determination in an interview with Flash Score: “I’ve played in five World Cups, and a World Cup is something very special, something important for a player. Not everyone gets to play in five World Cups, and nobody has been in six.” 



He expressed his profound desire to play in another World Cup, particularly in Mexico: “Playing in a sixth World Cup, in Mexico, would be very special for me, for Mexican football. It would go down in soccer history, and right now, at this stage, only three players could do it: Ronaldo, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Messi</a>, and me.”



<h2>Competition from Messi and Ronaldo</h2>



Ochoa’s pursuit of this record faces stiff competition from Lionel Messi and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/cristiano-ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>, who are also expected to participate in the 2026 World Cup, despite their age. Both players have already played in five World Cups.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20241215_WST_544197_Lionel-Messi-5-1200x675_4dbb3777.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-544198" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123553/Lionel-Messi-5-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123553/Lionel-Messi-5-300x169.jpg 300w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123553/Lionel-Messi-5-768x432.jpg 768w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123553/Lionel-Messi-5-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123553/Lionel-Messi-5-740x416.jpg 740w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123553/Lionel-Messi-5-490x275.jpg 490w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123553/Lionel-Messi-5-250x140.jpg 250w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/12/15123553/Lionel-Messi-5.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Ochoa’s extensive World Cup experience includes appearances in Germany 2006, South Africa 2010, Brazil 2014, Russia 2018, and Qatar 2022. He acknowledges the challenges of maintaining his form and fitness at his age, including the increased risk of injury: “It’s not easy as a goalkeeper. They score a lot of goals; it’s easier to score goals than to defend. I want to be at the World Cup. We’ll see if I can do it; I know I’m at the end of my career. It’s not easy; there are more injuries, more pain, it’s normal, that’s life. Let’s see if I can do it.”


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" id="WST#/news/lionel-messi-and-cristiano-ronaldo-almost-played-together-where-and-why-the-meeting-fell-through/"></div>


Ochoa is not the only player to have participated in five World Cups. Rafa Márquez, Andrés Guardado, and Antonio Carbajal also hold this record for Mexico, alongside Messi, Ronaldo, Gianluigi Buffon, and Lothar Matthäus internationally. Ochoa’s immense contribution to the Mexican national team over the years is indisputable, enhancing his chances of making the squad even if this might not be the most objectively reasonable decision from a purely sporting point of view.

What historic record is Guillermo Ochoa chasing with Mexico that Messi and Ronaldo could also achieve?

The historic milestone Guillermo Ochoa aims to reach with Mexico: Can Messi and Ronaldo achieve it too? - World Soccer Talk

Guillermo Ochoa's quest for a historic milestone with Mexico: Messi and Ronaldo as possible contenders

The historic milestone Guillermo Ochoa aims to reach with Mexico: Can Messi and Ronaldo achieve it too?

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Guillermo Ochoa's quest for a historic milestone with Mexico: Messi and Ronaldo as possible contenders