Discovery Raúl Rangel Thanks Mentor Ochoa

One of the biggest questions surrounding the Mexican national team ahead of the World Cup was who would start in goal. Would it be the inexperienced Raúl Rangel, who hadn't played a single official match for the team before, or the legendary Guillermo Ochoa?

Coach Javier Aguirre opted for youth, and it proved to be a wise decision. The 26-year-old Rangel made a spectacular save in the 87th minute against South Korea, helping the hosts secure a dramatic 1-0 victory and become the first team to reach the knockout stage of this year's World Cup. With two matches played and no goals conceded, Rangel replicated the feat of the iconic Jorge Campos. In Mexico's next match against the Czech Republic, he will aim to emulate Ignacio Calderón, the only Mexican goalkeeper to record three clean sheets in a single World Cup – achieved at home in 1970.

"Raúl has shown great determination since we first called him up. He was a backup to Luis Ángel Malagón, but he persevered and just kept improving," Aguirre said. "He played well with his club Chivas and was getting better day by day. Few players debut with such ease; usually, they have to learn by making mistakes. He seemed a little nervous in the first game, but he did well," the coach added.

Rangel's rise to World Cup fame was largely unexpected. He was playing in the second division with Tapatío just three years ago, became a starter with Chivas only a year ago, and Malagón was favored to start for Mexico after leading the team to CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup titles. However, a torn left Achilles tendon in March sidelined him. Even then, there were doubts whether Aguirre would trust Rangel for the World Cup finals or stick with Ochoa's experience. At 40, Ochoa is participating in his sixth World Cup.

Despite being relegated to the bench, Ochoa embraced the role of a mentor. "I have to thank Memo, who has been a true mentor to me. I say it openly, he helped me a lot," Rangel admitted. "He instilled in me the calmness he carries every day, despite all the World Cups he has played in," the goalkeeper added.

After the match against South Korea, Ochoa waited for Rangel to congratulate him and embraced him before heading to the locker room.

By keeping two clean sheets in his first two matches, Rangel matched Ochoa's debut run from 2014. Ochoa went on to record additional clean sheets in 2018 and 2022, holding the Mexican record for most World Cup clean sheets.

Italy's goalkeeper Walter Zenga holds the all-time World Cup record, having kept five consecutive clean sheets during the 1990 tournament.