Ochoa announces retirement from professional football

Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa has announced his retirement from professional football, bringing the curtain ​down on a career that spanned more ‌than two decades.

The 41-year-old confirmed his decision on social media on Tuesday after appearing at his sixth World ​Cup

Ochoa came on for the final 12 minutes ​of Mexico's 2-0 victory over the Czech ⁠Republic, soaking up the applause from fans at ​the Azteca Stadium, where he made his senior ​debut for Club America in 2004.

"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 wrote 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 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 Robert Lewandowski.

During his 22-year ⁠career ​at club level, Ochoa ​has played in France, Spain, Belgium, Italy and Portugal.