Malagón ruled out — could Ochoa play in a sixth World Cup?

Luis Ángel Malagón's World Cup dream is over. The Club América goalkeeper ruptured his Achilles tendon in a CONCACAF Champions Cup match and is expected to miss around a year of football, dealing a significant blow to Javier Aguirre's preparations for a tournament Mexico will host on home soil.

Malagón had established himself as Mexico's first-choice keeper and was widely expected to start the World Cup. His absence leaves a genuine void — goalkeeping has been a persistent concern for El Tri in recent years, and Malagón was seen as the most reliable answer to that problem.

Now, attention turns to who fills the gloves. The most intriguing possibility is the return of Guillermo "Memo" Ochoa, who at 39 could make a remarkable sixth World Cup appearance. Whether Aguirre turns to him as the starter or hands the opportunity to younger option "Tala" Rangel remains to be seen — but Ochoa, true to form, is very much back in the conversation.