One of the World Cup‘s most familiar faces could be set for a remarkable return in the Americas.
Host country Mexico have lost first choice shot-stopper Luis Angel Malagon and Guillermo Ochoa is his rumoured replacement.
Club America’s Malagon was entering the tournament as Mexico‘s No.1, but his side have since announced a serious Achilles injury.
Head coach André Jardine said: “We’ll see, it’s probably an Achilles tendon injury, hopefully not a complete rupture, but probably at least a partial one, which will keep him off the field for a while.”
There would have been a watchful eye on those comments over at AEL Limassol in Cyprus where Ochoa is still playing at the age of 40.
Chivas’ Raúl Rangel may have the edge as No.1, but Ochoa now looks very likely to at least be one of the three called up.
Should be in the squad, it would be his sixth World Cup, a record-breaking number.
Currently on five, he would join Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the only players to be selected for six tournaments.
Ochoa has been at every World Cup since 2006, while he’s also won the CONCACAF Gold Cup a record six times, the CONCACAF Nations League and an Olympic bronze medal.
| Team | Player | In squad | Played | Tournaments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mexico | Antonio Carbajal | 5 | 5 | 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966 |
 Mexico | Andrés Guardado | 5 | 5 | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 |
 Germany | Lothar Matthäus | 5 | 5 | 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998 |
| Mexico | Rafael Márquez | 5 | 5 | 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 |
 Argentina | Lionel Messi | 5 | 5 | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 |
 Portugal | Cristiano Ronaldo | 5 | 5 | 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 |
 Italy | Gianluigi Buffon | 5 | 4 | (1998), 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 |
| Mexico | Guillermo Ochoa | 5 | 3 | (2006), (2010), 2014, 2018, 2022 |
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