Guillermo Ochoa misses out on Messi and Ronaldo's World Cup appearance record
Although goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa is attending his sixth World Cup with Mexico, he will fall short of the active participation record held by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Author: Дмитрий Садовников
Guillermo Ochoa is set to achieve a rare feat in football history. Called up to the 2026 World Cup squad following an injury to Luis Malagon, the goalkeeper is expected to start against the Czech Republic this Wednesday in the final group stage match.
While this marks Ochoa's sixth World Cup squad selection, he will not match the active appearance records held by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. This is because FIFA only recognizes World Cups where a player has actually stepped onto the pitch for at least one match.
Although Ochoa was in the squads for the 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026 tournaments, he remained on the bench during the 2006 and 2010 editions. Consequently, if he plays against the Czech Republic, he will reach a total of four World Cups effectively played: 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026.
In contrast, both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have played in every single edition they have attended since 2006, accumulating six World Cups played—a feat unprecedented in the tournament's history.
The Mexican team has already secured a spot in the knockout stages, meaning the upcoming match against the Czech Republic carries no pressure for Javier Aguirre's side, allowing the coaching staff to give the veteran goalkeeper a start.