The 2022 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, an event long awaited by all soccer lovers worldwide in which there will be a great display of emotions. This atypical World Cup is not only full of curiosity due to the date and place where it will be held, but also because it marks the beginning of the goodbye of historical players who put the name of their countries at the top of world football.
In this special edition of La Isla Magazine, we will learn about the trajectory of some Latin American players who became soccer legends and have inspired children, youth, and adults with their work and demonstrated commitment. These are the players who will say their last goodbye at Qatar 2022:
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Messi is 35 years old and has announced that Qatar may be his last World Cup with the Argentine National Team. Lio, considered by many to be one of the best players in the world, consolidated his career as a striker for FC Barcelona, which allowed him to win seven Ballon d’Or. He also won the Olympic gold medal with the ‘albiceleste’ in 2008 and the Copa América 2021. His best performance in a World Cup was in Brazil in 2014 when his National Team played the final against Germany.
Luis Suarez (Uruguay)
At 35 years old, Lucho Suárez decided to seal the end of his career by returning to play with the team that saw him born: El Nacional de Uruguay. His glorious career was consolidated in Europe as a striker for important clubs such as Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona, and Atlético de Madrid. In addition, Lucho Suárez and his National Team won the 2011 Copa América and finished fourth in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Andrés Guardado (México)
Guardado, at 36, is considered one of the most experienced soccer players in the history of Mexican soccer. The “Little Prince”, as his followers affectionately call him, consolidated his career as a midfielder in important European clubs such as Atlas, Deportivo de la Coruña, Bayer Leverkusen, and Real Betis. As for his career as Captain of the Mexican National Team, Guardado has played in four World Cups and Qatar 2022 will be one of the last great goals of his career.
Keylor Navas (Costa Rica)
The 35-year-old goalkeeper is the best player in the history of Costa Rica. His career was consolidated in one of the best clubs in Europe: Real Madrid of Spain, with which he won the Champions League cup three times. He currently stands out as a PSG goalkeeper alongside great players like Messi, Neymar and Mbappé. In addition, Navas had a fantastic performance in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, reaching the quarterfinals with the Costa Rican National Team and scoring a goal in the penalty shootout.
Guillermo Ochoa (México)
Memo Ochoa is 37 years old and the World Cups have been the competitions where he has shone the most. The unforgettable saves made by the Mexican goalkeeper with his national team have allowed him to establish himself as one of the best in the world, which is why in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil he was nominated for the best goalkeeper award together with Manuel Neuer and Keylor Navas. Currently, Memo is still the starting goalkeeper of the “Tri” and will play his fifth World Cup in Qatar 2022.
The farewell of these players will cause sadness in all their followers but it will also be an event in which we will have the great opportunity to enjoy these legends of world soccer in the prime of their careers and watch them shine in their last big dance.
By: Natalia Delgadillo