OLYMPIC GAMES | SOCCER
Why isn’t Lionel Messi playing for Argentina at the Paris 2024 Olympics?
He may have led his national team to the World Cup in 2022, but there is no place for the Inter Miami star in Paris.
Sixteen national teams are competing in the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament at the Paris 2024 Games. The tournament began on Wednesday, July 24, with the rosters for all participating nations already announced.
As per the regulations, each team is allowed to select up to three players over the age of 23, with the remainder of the squad comprising players born on or after January 1, 2001. Notable players such as Alexandre Lacazette, Julián Álvarez, and Achraf Hakimi will be representing their respective countries. As you’ll see, Lionel Messi did not take his place for Argentina, needing a break after the Copa América success and before he attempts to defend the Leagues Cup with Inter Miami.
Below is the list of all players over the age of 23 who have been selected for the Paris 2024 Games.
Interestingly, one nation has opted not to include any overage players. Let’s take a look at them all...
Men’s soccer Group A
France
Loic Bade
Date of birth: 04/11/2000 (24 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Seville
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Date of birth: 06/28/1997 (27 years old)
Position: Forward
Team: Crystal Palace
Alexandre Lacazette
Date of birth: 05/28/1991 (33 years old)
Position: Forward
Team: Olympique Lyon
USA
Walker Zimmerman
Date of birth: 05/19/1993 (31 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Nashville SC
Miles Robinson
Date of birth: 03/14/1997 (27 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Cincinnati
Djordje Mihailovic
Date of birth: 11/10/1998 (25 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: Colorado Rapids
Guinea
Abdoulaye Toure
Date of birth: 03/03/1994 (30 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: Le Havre
Naby Keita
Date of birth: 02/10/1995 (29 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: Liverpool
Amadou Diawara
Date of birth: 07/17/1997 (26 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: RSC Anderlecht
New Zealand
Michael Boxall
Date of birth: 08/18/1988 (35 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Minnesota United
Sarpreet Singh
Date of birth: 02/20/1999 (25 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: Hansa Rostock
Joe Bell
Date of birth: 04/27/1999 (25 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: Viking
Men’s soccer Group B
Argentina
Gerónimo Rulli
Date of birth: 05/20/1992 (32 years old)
Position: Goalkeeper
Team: Ajax
Nicolás Otamendi
Date of birth: 02/12/1988 (36 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Benfica
Julián Álvarez
Date of birth: 01/31/2000 (24 years old)
Position: Forward
Team: Manchester City
Morocco
Munir El Kajoui
Date of birth: 05/10/1989 (35 years old)
Position: Goalkeeper
Team: Berkane Renaissance
Achraf Hakimi
Date of birth: 04/11/1998 (25 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Paris Saint-Germain
Soufiane Rahimi
Date of birth: 06/02/1996 (28 years old)
Position: Forward
Team: Al Ain
Iraq
Suad Natiq
Date of birth: 03/19/1994 (30 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Ibrahim Bayesh
Date of birth: 05/01/2000 (24 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya
Aymen Hussein
Date of birth: 03/22/1996 (28 years old)
Position: Forward
Team: Al-Khor
Ukraine
Maksym Talovierov
Date of birth: 06/28/2000 (24 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Lask
Dmytro Kryskiv
Date of birth: 06/10/2000 (23 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: Shakhtar Donetsk
Men’s soccer Group C
Uzbekistan
Khusniddin Alikulov
Date of birth: 04/04/1999 (24 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Caykur Rizespor
Oston Urunov
Date of birth: 12/19/2000 (23 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: Persepolis
Eldor Shomurodov
Date of birth: 06/29/1995 (29 years old)
Position: Forward
Team: Cagliari
Spain
Juan Miranda
Date of birth: 01/19/2000 (24 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Bologna
Sergio Gomez
Date of birth: 09/04/2000 (23 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Real Sociedad
Abel Ruiz
Date of birth: 01/28/2000 (24 years old)
Position: Forward
Team: Girona
Egypt
Mohamed Elneny
Date of birth: 07/11/1992 (32 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: Arsenal
Zizo
Date of birth: 01/10/1996 (28 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: Zamalek
Dominican Republic
Luiyi De Lucas
Date of birth: 08/31/1994 (29 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: AEL Limassol
Junior Firpo
Date of birth: 08/22/1996 (27 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Leeds United
Heinz Morschel
Date of birth: 08/24/1997 (26 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: Újpest
Men’s soccer Group D
Japan
Japan has not selected any player over 23 years old.
Paraguay
Roberto Junior 'Gatito' Fernández
Date of birth: 03/29/1988 (36 years old)
Position: Goalkeeper
Team: Botafogo
Fabián Balbuena
Date of birth: 08/23/1991 (32 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Dinamo Moscow
Mali
Salam Jiddou
Date of birth: 02/01/2000 (24 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: ES Sétif
Demba Diallo
Date of birth: 10/13/2000 (23 years old)
Position: Forward
Team: Manisa FK
Israel
Sean Goldberg
Date of birth: 06/13/1995 (29 years old)
Position: Defense
Team: Maccabi Haifa
Omri Gandelman
Date of birth: 05/16/2000 (24 years old)
Position: Midfielder
Team: Ghent
Where is Mbappé, Messi, Pulisic and Yamal?
Although there was much speculation about some top table names making an appearance at the Games, especially France’s very own superstar, other considerations over health and club meant this wasn’t to be.
The likes of Kylian Mbappé, Christian Pulisic and Lamine Yamal are not playing in Paris, with the latter very comfortably fitting within the age restrictions. Elite players are rarely chosen to represent their nations at the Olympics.