In the 77th minute, finally, it was Guillermo Ochoa’s time.

Supporters had chanted for the legendary goalkeeper as he entered the pitch for warmups on Wednesday (June 25, 2026). They shouted “Memo” — Ochoa’s nickname — before the starting lineups were announced in the stadium ahead of Mexico’s last World Cup group game against Czech Republic. Cries for “O-cho-a” reverberated through Estadio Azteca in the 73rd minute.

Head coach Javier Aguirre satisfied the crowd, and the nation by bringing in the 40-year-old veteran to thunderous applause in a match that likely marks his farewell to El Tri.

“It’s the most beautiful thing that they recognise your effort,” Ochoa said of the fans after Mexico’s 3-0 win. “I always try to do it for them, to leave a mark. I think that today was a perfect closing.”

The setting for his farewell couldn’t have been better than at the Azteca stadium, where he made his professional debut with Club América in 2004.

“I felt the affection in the stadium where I was born, the stadium where I grew up.” Ochoa said. “It came to me when I was in the stands and I said I want to be on the field and I want to play here in this stadium.’”

Ochoa etched his name alongside World Cup greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on Wednesday — albeit with an asterisk. While this tournament marks his sixth World Cup squad selection, it’s just his fourth that include on-field appearances.

Ochoa watched from the bench in Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010 before becoming Mexico’s undisputed ‘keeper from Brazil 2014 through Qatar 2022.

The man known as Memo rose to prominence following a man-of-the-match performance in a 0-0 draw with hosts Brazil in the 2014 World Cup, including a spectacular denial of a Neymar header that earned him international acclaim. He followed that outing with a similarly stunning performance in the round of 16 against the Netherlands, once again earning the player of the match award.

He also delivered a strong performance in the 2018 tournament, including a clean sheet against defending champion Germany. Then, despite starting the 2022 tournament well with a man-of-the-match outing against Poland, Ochoa conceded a late goal against Saudi Arabia to seal Mexico’s first group-stage elimination since 1978.

Ochoa’s presence at his sixth World Cup was in jeopardy until an injury to projected starter Luis Ángel Malagón, who had anchored Mexico’s Nations League and Gold Cup triumphs last year, opened a path to this final curtain call. And what a show it was.

“If they had asked me to make a script a couple of years ago, I don’t think it would have turned out better than it did tonight,” Ochoa said. “It was wonderful. It was perfect.”

He entered to the sound of more than 85,000 people in Azteca chanting his name. The songs burst out soon after, followed by cacophonous cheers when he had his first touch.

After the final whistle, Ochoa’s teammates tossed him into the air in celebration.

“In the end, I think that is the most beautiful thing of all,” Ochoa said. “The affection of my teammates.”

A look at age-verification documents would make one wonder how these warhorses’ batteries still have enough charge for the FIFA World Cup.

It appears as though they have been competing at football’s glitziest spectacle since time immemorial. The ageless fighters, however, are likely to bid adieu to the pinnacle of the global game in the ongoing edition. Here are five such players who are set for their last dance:

Lionel Messi (38 years): The Argentine talisman, who will turn 39 during the World Cup, is no longer shouldering the burden of attaining ultimate success, having achieved crowning glory in Qatar 2022.

There was a shadow of doubt whether he would make it to the record-equalling sixth tournament, but the richly gifted forward has opted to take the toughest football examination once again. Messi is steadily building up to full fitness after being sidelined with a hamstring injury, which he suffered when he was on duty for Inter Miami. His objective? Adding a feather to an already heavily decorated cap with a successful title defence.

Cristiano Ronaldo (41): The Portuguese legend would just not bow out of the international arena without straining every sinew to accomplish the mission. After multiple unsuccessful pursuits that left him heartbroken, Ronaldo, the only man to score in five iterations, will have another bite at the cherry.

The once-in-a-generation attacker has a genuine chance of hoisting the shimmering trophy, for his team has several game-changers who can alter the script in a jiffy.

On an individual note, Ronaldo, cognisant of his well-below-par returns in knockout fixtures, will be determined to exert more influence in such clashes. If he carries Portugal to the promised land, he will almost certainly be ‘sainted’ back home.

Luka Modric (40): The Croatian may be running the last mile in his illustrious career, but the midfield master is still a feared opponent in his ‘area’ of strength.

That he plied his trade in one of Europe’s top-five leagues — for AC Milan in Serie A — last season despite being in the 40s shows his longevity with no compromise in quality.

After stumbling in the final hurdle in 2018 and coming third four years later, Modric will hope to turn those near-misses into a perfect finish. Croatia will have to come out in full force if it is to join the World Cup-winning community.

Manuel Neuer (40): The German custodian’s international return was something that not many anticipated, but head coach Julian Nagelsmann has pinned his hopes on the shotstopper.

Neuer, donning the national colours for the first time since the European Championship in 2024, will be the No. 1 choice between the sticks provided he is in the best shape.

The goalkeeper’s volume of years in the sport and experience of tasting success at this level (in 2014) were too good to ignore for Nagelsmann, who is two years younger to Neuer. “He does not need to settle in at this stage. He can handle pressure situations,” the chief coach said of the veteran.

Guillermo Ochoa (40): A Mexican World Cup squad without Ochoa in the mix will look incomplete, considering that he was a constant presence under the crossbar in the previous three editions.

The goalkeeper, chosen to represent the North American outfit in the tournament proper for the record-levelling sixth time, has revelled in performing at the quadrennial event.

But Ochoa has hardly garnered game time in recent years and may find himself on the bench again. He, however, is prepared to give head coach Javier Aguirre a ‘happy’ selection problem.