News, goals, and analysis – only on the official A BOLA app. World Cup The young midfielder Gilberto Mora, just 17 years old, completed high school just days after being one of the standout figures for the Mexico national team in the 2026 World Cup. The host nation’s participation ended in the round of 16, with a 2-3 defeat against England at the Estadio Azteca, where he even swapped jerseys with Jude Bellingham. Known as “Morita,” the player could not attend the graduation ceremony, which took place at a school in the border city of Tijuana, but his name was called. Several videos released by the Mexican press on Wednesday show the moment when his name, “Mora Zambrano, Gilberto,” was announced, receiving a great ovation from his classmates. Gilberto Mora graduated from high school in his hometown of Tijuana. He did not attend, nor did Memo Ochoa represent him. A great sporting future awaits Morita, perhaps in a European team and looking ahead to the next World Cup in 2030. Mora’s young age was a recurring topic during the World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, generating numerous memes and jokes on social media. Humorous images showed the player asking his mother for permission to face England or using a Spider-Man backpack on the team bus. The experienced goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who at 40 years old played in his sixth and final World Cup, joined in the jokes and took on the role of “godfather” to “Morita,” earning the nickname “Don Memo.” During the tournament, Ochoa appeared at Mora’s hotel room door with colored pens and a puppet, jokingly saying, “It’s past nine, kid. You haven’t done your homework yet; it’s time to sleep. I came to tell you a story.” After the young player’s graduation, Ochoa took to social media again to send him an emotional message, accompanied by an AI-generated image symbolizing the embrace between the two. The goalkeeper took the opportunity to officially adopt the nickname “Don Memo” when signing the post. “Keep learning, working, enjoying, and being the great guy you are. Football goes by very quickly, but people never forget those who have always been good. Proud of you!” wrote Ochoa. Besides the good humor, expectations surrounding Gilberto Mora’s future are high. The young player from Xolos de Tijuana has reportedly caught the interest of European giants like Liverpool and Manchester United, according to specialized media.
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