The organisers of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris have sent an invitation to Lionel Messi, who they hope would pursue an unprecedented number of gold medals.
AHEAD OF TIME?
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has already won one Olympic gold medal, from back in 2008. He had to wait a long time to win important medals with his country, though, and first competed as a senior international. Now that he has won the World Cup, Finalissima, and Copa America, Messi is a happy man.
THE LARGER IMAGE
Messi might be one of three overage players chosen by Argentina for their Olympic team next summer from a U23 competition. The Inter Miami player would have the opportunity to become the first person to win two gold medals and a World Cup if he chose to attend.
THINGS THEY SAID
In response to a question regarding Messi’s potential presence at the Games in Paris, Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, informed Infobae: “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.”
UP NEXT: WHAT HAPPENS?
Javier Mascherano, Argentina’s Olympic coach, has acknowledged that Messi is someone he would like to call upon. However, the Albiceleste will play in another Copa America tournament the following summer, which runs through July 14—just ten days before the Olympic competition in the French city begins. Inter Miami, a member of the MLS, would be reluctant to release their talismanic captain for back-to-back international competitions in the middle of a domestic campaign in the United States, especially because the only anticipated respite would be during the Copa America group stage.