Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has decided to concentrate on Copa America and MLS games this summer, with the Argentine national team coach calling up the other two 2022 World Cup champions instead.
The 2024 Olympic Games will be held in Paris this summer. The attention of football fans will be focused on the football tournament, which will be attended by 16 national teams from around the world.
One of the main favourites is the Argentine team, which is led by the famous former Liverpool and Barcelona player Javier Mascherano. The team was expected to include eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.
Each team has to enter players under the age of 23, but there are also three exceptions for players of any age. Messi, 36, was supposed to take one of these slots.
However, according to Argentine media reports, Lionel refused to participate in the Games. The reason is the Inter Miami forward's busy schedule, as he will also take part in the Copa America that summer.
It is expected that goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (31), defender Nicolas Otamendi (36) and striker Julian Alvarez (24) will take the slots free of age restrictions. Argentina will play in a group alongside Ukraine, Morocco and one of the Asian teams.
The men's football tournament will take place from 24 July to 9 August in France. Ukraine will play group matches in Lyon and Saint-Etienne.