Argentina Argentina Olympic team coach Javier Mascherano wants Lionel Messi to join him in winning a medal at the 2024 Olympics.
"I have been asked about it and of course the Olympic door is always open for Leo," Mascherano said when asked about the possibility of Messi returning to play for Argentina's Olympic team. "I am a close friend of his and I would love it. But first, we have to qualify."
Mascherano's side will compete in the qualifying round from mid-January to early February 2024. Argentina are in Group B with Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay and Peru, while Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador are in Group A. The top two teams from each group will advance to the second group stage. The top two teams from the second group stage will represent South America at the 2024 Olympics in France in July. Both group stages will be played in a round-robin format.
Mascherano (right) puts his arm around Messi's shoulder on the day he won the 2008 Olympic gold medal, in Beijing, China. Photo: AFA
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach also wants Messi to return to the Olympics. In 2008, in Beijing (China), Messi won a gold medal. "It would be great if Messi could compete at the 2024 Olympics," Bach said. "The Olympics are the ambition of many football stars, like Kylian Mbappe. For Messi, it means the opportunity to rewrite history. He could be the only player in history to win two Olympic gold medals and a World Cup."
In addition to the 2008 Olympic gold medal, Messi also won the 2005 U20 World Cup, the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Intercontinental Super Cup, the 2022 World Cup, four Champions Leagues, 10 La Ligas, two Ligue 1s and seven Ballon d'Ors. On October 30, Messi could win his eighth Ballon d'Or.
In 2024, Messi is likely to join the Argentina national team in the Copa America in the US, from June 20 to July 14. Two weeks later, the Olympics will take place. If Messi participates in both the Copa America and the Olympics, he may not have time to recover and be in the best physical condition.
Mascherano played with Messi for eight years at Barca and 13 years with the Argentina national team. Together, the two players won four La Liga titles, four Copa del Reys, two Champions Leagues and the 2008 Olympic gold medal. Mascherano also won the 2004 Olympic gold medal, when Messi was not yet playing. The Olympic team consists of U23 players and three players over that age.
Thanh Quy (according to ESPN )
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