While the 2014 World Cup might still be relatively young, Mexico stopper Guillermo Ochoa has already put himself in contention as the tournament’s best goalkeeper after his inspired performance against Brazil. With much of the talk so far in this World Cup being the amount of goals being scored, it says something about Ochoa’s performance that you’d have been hard pressed to find someone bored after watching the goalless draw.
Ochoa kept a clean sheet in Mexico’s 1-0 victory over Cameroon, although took until the 90th minute before the keeper was tested, but the was somewhat busier in Mexico’s second Group A game against Brazil. While the hosts dominated large spells of the game, there was nothing Neymar, Fred, Oscar et al could do to find a way past an inspired Ochoa in the Mexican goal.
Ochoa was an unused substitute during Mexico’s 2010 World Cup campaign, with former coach Javier Aguirre opting for Oscar Perez as the number one goalkeeper. Ochoa has re-established himself as first choice under Miguel Herrera, and the Mexican fans in Fortaleza will have been delighted to have the 28-year old in goals as Brazil peppered Ochoa’s goal for 90 minutes.
The Brazil striker Fred said Ochoa had performed “four miracles”, and the keeper admitted “It was the game of my life,” much to the agreement of the majority of people watching the thrilling 0-0 draw.
Currently without a club, Ochoa certainly won’t be short of offers at the end of this World Cup. While Marseille were considered favourites to sign Ochoa before the tournament, the former Ajaccio goalkeeper could be set to receive some even more tempting offers from some of European football’s biggest clubs. Clubs from France, Italy, Spain and England have all been credited with an interest in Ochoa, and the keeper could come out of this World Cup as the most highly sought after free agent in the market.