Who has played in the most games in the history of the World Cup for Mexico?
El Tri has been a classic in the tournament, playing in 16 editions, but which player has appeared the most at the World Cup?
Mexico will be playing their 17th World Cup in Qatar, as Gerardo Martino’s men begin the group stage against Poland in a match that will likely be key for one of the two spots that will give access to the knockout rounds.
El Tri won’t have an easy task in Group C, since they will be facing one of the favorites to go all the way in Argentina, Robert Lewandowski’s Poland, and Saudi Arabia.
It will certainly be a special moment for goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa on Tuesday, one of the players with the most appearances in World Cup history (5 editions).
‘Memo’ is one of the most iconic players that the Mexico national team has ever had, but although he will feature in his fifth World Cup, he is not the player with the most games played with El Tri in the tournament.
Who has played the most games for Mexico?
Ochoa has played a total of eight games in four World Cups, but there are quite a few Mexican players with more matches than him.
Andrés Guardado and Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández are on the top of the historic list with a total number of 12 games, only behind Rafa Márquez, who has played the most matches with the national squad in the World Cup - 19.
The former FC Barcelona defender is one of five players who share the all-time record with the most World Cups played with five, together with the above-mentioned Ochoa, the former Mexican goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal, former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, Mexican player Andrés Guardado, former Germany midfielder Lothar Matthäus, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
El Káiser, who took part in the 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 tournaments, scored three goals, the last of them against Croatia in the 2014 World Cup.