Argentina great Lionel Messi turns down chance to return to Paris for Olympic Games 2024
Lionel Messi turns down chance to return to Paris for 2024 Olympic Games
World Cup winner with Argentina, Lionel Messi, has turned down the chance to return to Paris, France, for the 2024 Olympic Games, starting July 26. Representing Argentina in the Copa America, Messi said playing back-to-back mega tournaments at this age is too much for him. Meanwhile, defending champions Argentina will face Canada in their tournament opener on June 21.
The men’s football competition runs from July 24 to August 9 at the Summer Games. This is primarily an under-23 event, with each team allowed to have three overage players. With Argentina involved, it led to discussions of Messi featuring in his last Olympic Games.
However, in a chat with ESPN Argentina, Messi informed Argentina Under-23 coach Javier Mascherano of his unavailability for this tournament. Having played and won the Olympic gold medal alongside Mascherano before, Messi knows the platform it provides to participating athletes but vows to be careful of his playing schedule at 36.
ALSO READ:'Everything is going...': Argentina great Lionel Messi confirms he will retire at Inter Miami
"I talked to Mascherano, and the truth is we both understood the situation," Messi said.
"It's hard [to think about the Olympics right now] because we're in Copa America. It would be two, three straight months of not being with the club, and more than anything I'm not at an age to be in everything.
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"I have to choose carefully, and it would be too much to play two straight tournaments. I've been very lucky to play in the Olympics, of winning it together with Masche (Mascherano). It was a wonderful experience on a football level. Olympics, U20, memories I'll never forget,” the football great continued.
'Nothing like Olympics'
Remaining unavailable for selection at this year’s Summer Games for obvious reasons, Messi wished the to-be-selected squad good luck, adding they must enjoy playing at the Olympics as it is special in many ways and different from everything else.
"It's spectacular to be fortunate enough to go through all that. I hope that the guys who get to go enjoy it in the same way that I did because it's special. The Olympics are special, different from anything else,” Messi added.
Meanwhile, the footballing great won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008, and later completed a full set of international titles with Copa America (in 2022) and FIFA World Cup (2022) wins.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will return to play for Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS), admitting that he vows to retire at this club only.
(With inputs from agencies)
