da supremo： Lionel Messi has been invited to make Olympic history at Paris 2024, with organisers hoping that the Argentina icon will go gold medal-chasing.
da imperador bet： Article continues below
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Won gold medal back in 2008Nobody has two golds & a World CupBusy summer in 2024WHAT HAPPENED?
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner already has one Olympic title to his name from back in 2008, with a long wait then taken in at senior international before finally getting his hands on major honours with his country. Messi is now the proud owner of Copa America, Finalissima and World Cup crowns.
AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Argentina could select Messi in their Olympics squad next summer as one of three overage players in an U23 tournament. If he were to attend, then the Inter Miami superstar would get the chance to become the first man to win two gold medals and a World Cup.
WHAT THEY SAID
Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, has told when asked about the prospect of Messi gracing the Games in Paris: “It would be fantastic if he could be here. The Games are an ambition for many football stars, such as [Kylian] Mbappe. For Lionel Messi it would mean a chance to write history once again. He could be the only player in history to have two gold medals and a World Cup. I don't want to interfere in the decisions of the coach, but it would be a great opportunity for Messi. If he plays, Argentina would have a higher chance of winning the gold medal, it would be fantastic for football and the Olympic Games.”
GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Argentina’s Olympic coach, Javier Mascherano, has admitted that he would like to call upon Messi. The Albiceleste do, however, have another Copa America campaign to take in next summer – with that event running through to July 14, just 10 days before the Olympic competition gets underway in the French capital. MLS side Inter Miami would also be reluctant to release their talismanic captain for back-to-back international events in the middle of a domestic campaign in the United States – with a break there only expected to take in the Copa America group stage.