Is Lionel Messi playing in the 2024 Summer Olympics?
To the sadness of football enthusiasts, Lionel Messi will not be playing in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Yes, you read that right. If not the greatest football player he is one of the most decorated players in the sport’s current era. Yet he will not show his skills in this edition of the Summer Olympics. The Argentine superstar himself confirmed his absence from the 2024 Paris Olympics in an interview. The over-age slots of the Argentine side were instead filled by goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, defender Nicolas Otamendi and forward Julian Alvarez.
Lionel Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, is not playing in the Paris edition. Earlier in June, Messi cited heavy workload as the reason for his absence from the Olympics. The 37-year-old stated that playing back-to-back tournaments like the Copa America and the Paris Olympics could have been too much for his age. Argentina’s Olympic coach, Javier Mascherano, had expressed a keen desire to include Messi in his squad,
However, in the end, it seems like Lionel Messi might have rejected it. Even if this decision were to be somehow turned around, he still would not have been fit to play. This is because he picked up an ankle injury in the recently concluded Copa America 2024. The little maestro was also ruled out from the Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star Game because of this injury. However, the ankle injury was completely overshadowed by his brilliance in the tournament as he led the Argentina side to win the title.
Lionel Messi to not be a part of the 2024 Paris Olympics
Lionel Messi’s absence is surely a blow to his fans, but it opens up opportunities for the young talent pool to shine. As for Messi, his focus will now turn to his club career and potential future international commitments. The Barcelona legend has hinted at the possibility of extending his international career beyond the 2026 World Cup.
“It’s great to have records and continue to achieve things but I won’t take part in a World Cup just to say I’ve done six. If I feel good and everything is in place for me to be there, fine, but I won’t go just to go. It’s very difficult to imagine what can happen because it’s still two years away. I don’t need to commit right now to whether or not I’ll be there,” he said. As for now, the summer of 2024 will be a time for rest, recuperation, and a well-earned vacation for him.
