2024-07-09 16:33:21
Buenos Aires: Lionel Messi will not be part of Argentina’s football team at the Olympics starting in Paris later this month. Coach Javier Mascherano named four members of the World Cup-winning team in the team announced on Tuesday, including striker Julian Alvarez and defender Nicolas Otamendi. Messi, 37, who has been struggling with injuries this year, is currently representing Argentina in the Copa America. The team aims to defend the continental title won in 2021. Argentina also won the World Cup in 2022 after winning the Copa America in 2021. Messi helped the team win the gold medal in Beijing in 2008 in his only Olympic campaign. The Olympic men’s football tournament is for the Under-23 team but each team is allowed to play three overage players.
Mascherano, who won Olympic gold medals as a player in 2004 and 2008, will add goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, Otamendi and Alvarez to the team after the Copa America ends. Midfielder Claudio Etcheverry, who recently joined Manchester City from River Plate, will also join the team. Argentina will play two friendly matches in France before its first match of the Olympic football tournament against Morocco on July 24. Apart from Argentina and Morocco, Iraq and Ukraine have got a place in Group B.