*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 July 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 July 2024
Emmanuel "Emi" Ochoa (born 5 May 2005) is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Liga MX club Cruz Azul.[1] Born in the United States, he is a youth international for Mexico.
Ochoa made national sports headlines in November 2019 when, at only 14 years and 191 days old, he signed as a Homegrown Player for the San Jose Earthquakes, making him the youngest ever Homegrown Player in Major League Soccer history.[1][2][4] He is also the second youngest player to register for an MLS team, behind Freddy Adu, and at the time of his signing was considered to be the best goalkeeper of his age group in the country.[5][6][7]
Cruz Azul
On 17 January 2025, Cruz Azul announced the signing of Emmanuel Ochoa.
International career
Born in the United States, Ochoa is of Mexican descent. He has represented the United States at under-14 and under-15 level.[1][2][8][9] He is also eligible to represent Mexico.[6] On March 9, 2020, Ochoa received a call up to the Mexico U-16 side, his first for any of Mexico's national team squads.[10] He played in a scrimmage match against the youth team of Club Puebla on March 12, 2020.[11][12]
