Ochoa fever grips Fifa World Cup 2014: Brazil served Mexican 'Memo'

It was supposed to be about Neymar, Messi and Ronaldo.

Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney were being watched as well.

But the Fifa World Cup 2014 in Brazil has given the world two unlikely superstars.

'El Flaco' -- the Skinny One; and While player nicknamed ‘Memo’.

Argentina legend Maradona has dubbed Thomas Mueller 'El Flaco'.

And Mexico's Guillermo ‘Memo’ Ochoa produced one of the great World Cup goalkeeping performances on Tuesday denting hosts Brazil's confidence and boosting his own job chances.

Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa jumps to save the ball during their 2014 World Cup Group A soccer match against Brazil at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza, June 17, 2014. (REUTERS)

The 28-year-old, who has no club, hurled himself across the goal to parry away a Neymar shot and kept out a point-blank header by Brazil captain Thiago Silva in an astounding game.

Admirers were likening his agility to Gordon Banks' miracle save for England in 1970 when he stopped a header by Brazil's legend Pele.

Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa dives to stop the ball during their 2014 World Cup Group A soccer match against Brazil at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza June 17, 2014. (REUTERS)

Ochoa, who keeps his curly-hair out of his eyes with a blue head band, said "undoubtedly it was the best match of my life."

Brazil coach Luis Felipe Scolari may give one of the top job references after the goalless draw slowed his side's advance on the second round of the World Cup.

Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa makes a save during the 2014 World Cup Group A soccer match between Brazil and Mexico at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza June 17, 2014. (REUTERS)

"We had our chances but the goalkeeper played superbly," said Scolari.

"He is a very good goalkeeper who had a very good day and it is because of that we didn't win.

Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa makes a save during a Group A football match between Brazil and Mexico in the Castelao Stadium in Fortaleza during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 17, 2014. (AFP)

"He was spectacular, very calm and confident."

Ochoa is without a regular job as his two year contract with unfashionable French league side Ajaccio has ended. The team were relegated to the second division this season.

Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa (L) clears the ball shot by Brazil's defender Thiago Silva (C) during a Group A football match between Brazil and Mexico in the Castelao Stadium in Fortaleza during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 17, 2014. (AFP)

His job with Ajaccio could have been in doubt after he was implicated in a doping scandal with four Mexico team-mates in 2011 just after his move to France. All tested positive for the anabolic steroid clenbuterol.

Ochoa protested his innocence but it left him in limbo for a year. He was thrown out of the Gold Cup in June that year while waiting for the Mexican federation decided his fate. He was cleared.

Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoam, left, dives at a wide shot on the goal during the group A World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Mexico at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil, Tuesday, June 17, 2014.  (AP)

They were lonely times for him and costly too as clubs of the stature of Paris Saint Germain and Manchester United dropped their interest in him. The unheralded Ajaccio got to keep hold of him.

Ochoa, who is in his third World Cup finals but only played his first game against Cameroon last week, stayed loyal to Ajaccio after he was cleared by the federation, which found that the players had eaten meat contaminated with the steroid. A similar excuse was used by Spain's two-time Tour de France champion Alberto Contador when he failed a test.

Brazil's Paulinho (8) watches as Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa punches the ball clear of the goal during the group A World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Mexico at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. (AP)

The World Anti-Doping Agency were not satisfied and appealed the decision but withdrew the move in October 2011 when they were allowed full access to the federation's findings.

"At Ajaccio I found the ideal conditions where I could feel at home," he said.

"It was the only club which held its hand out to me during the doping affair.

"Obviously that created strong bonds and I will never forget them," he said.

The Skinny One

Mueller claimed the first hat-trick of these World Cup finals in Monday's 4-0 drubbing of Portugal in Germany's Group G opener in Salvador.

The Bayern Munich star, 24, is normally deployed as a winger or attacking midfielder and has only made rare appearances as striker for either club or country.

Germany's Thomas Mueller (13) kicks the ball at Portugal's goalkeeper Rui Patricio to score his side's fourth goal as Portugal's Joao Pereira (21) watches during the group G World Cup soccer match between Germany and Portugal at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil, Monday, June 16, 2014. (AP)

But the gangly Mueller repaid the faith of head coach. "He has no muscles, but today he tore them (Portugal) apart," an impressed Maradona, who knows a thing or two about goal-scoring, told Venezuelan television.

The goal-scoring exploits of stocky 1970s star Gerd Mueller are legendary amongst Germany fans, but his younger namesake currently has his football-mad country swooning.

The 68-year-old Gerd -- also nicknamed 'Das Bomber' -- retired after scoring West Germany's winning goal in the 1974 World Cup final against the Netherlands.

Germany's forward Thomas Mueller (L) celebratres scoring the 4-0 goal past Portugal's goalkeeper Rui Patricio (R) during the Group G football match between Germany and Portugal at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 16, 2014. (AFP)

He finished his career with an incredible 68 goals in 62 internationals and the younger Mueller is producing similar impressive statistics with 20 goals in 50 internationals.

"The lad's fast, he's got a good technique - he's going to be a great player," Gerd Muller said.

With eight World Cup goals now to his credit, the younger Mueller out-shone Portugal's World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.

Germany's Thomas Mueller celebrates scoring his team's third goal, his second goal for the match, against Portugal during their 2014 World Cup Group G soccer match at the Fonte Nova arena in Salvador, June 16, 2014. (REUTERS)

While the Portuguese captain is renowned for his personal grooming and showing off his finely-honed torso in his goal celebrations, Mueller has a touch of the boy-next-door.

"It's his unorthodox playing style that characterises Thomas Mueller," ex-Germany captain Oliver Kahn told braodcasters ZDF.

"Sometimes he doesn't know himself exactly what he's going to do.

"There's a lot of intuition involved, he always knows where he has to run.

"His body language is very important, he makes a strong impression and says 'we want to be world champions' -- I like that."

- 'He's a cool guy' -Mueller's self-confidence was clear as he picked up where he left off at the 2010 World Cup -- his break-through tournament -- when he finished joint top-scorer to claim both the Golden Boot and best young player awards in South Africa.

"He's a light-hearted, cool guy," enthused German FA president Wolfgang Niersbach.

"He says before the tournament that he would again like to be the World Cup's top-scorer -- then he goes and scores three goals.

"He's relaxed and determined at the same time."

Mueller started against Portugal ahead of Germany's all-time top-scorer Miroslav Klose, 36, with the Lazio star just one short of now retired Brazilian great Ronaldo's record of 15 World Cup goals.

But Loew said Mueller's unorthodox runs are an asset which leaves defences guessing the Bavarian's next move.

"He is a very unorthodox player and you can't really predict his lines of running, but he has one aim and that is 'how can I score a goal?'", said Loew.

"That makes him so dangerous, especially in the box."

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